(light instrumental music)
- Camouflage is important in the oceans.
It's a cutthroat world outside these submarine walls.
Today, we're talking about seahorses,
and their ability to camouflage.
(suspenseful instrumental music)
My grandfather Jacques Cousteau always stood out
in a crowd because of his style,
but these seahorses do just the opposite.
Seahorses are masters of camouflage,
and the pygmy seahorse is one of
the most well-camouflaged species in the ocean,
and the smallest variety of seahorses that exist.
They're the size of a paperclip.
In fact, the pygmy seahorse wasn't discovered
until someone was examining a piece of coral it was on.
(light string music)
Seahorses, much like chameleons, can change color.
They change color to confuse predators,
as well as to convey emotions to one another,
especially during courtship.
The speed at which they change color,
well that depends on what's happening.
As a response to fear, it's rapid,
whereas if it's due to hormonal changes, it's much slower.
- It's gone.
- What, what do you mean it's gone? (sighing)
No, no, no, no, it's right there.
Stealthy seahorse.