The biological process or pattern of having darker coloring on the upper surface and lighter coloring on the lower surface of an animal's body.
From countershade + -ing (gerund suffix). Developed as a technical biological term in the early 1900s to describe this common camouflage strategy.
Countershading is so effective that it appears in penguins, whales, dolphins, and countless fish species—a 'hidden' pattern that's actually one of nature's most successful survival strategies.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.