What color pattern is a consistent feature on the underside of many woodrat species?
Answer
White or pale fur on the underside
A consistent physical feature found across many species of woodrats is the presence of white or pale fur on the underside of the body. This pattern creates a clear contrast between the darker dorsal side (which is typically grayish to brownish for camouflage against natural backgrounds like scrub or scree) and the lighter belly. This characteristic countershading is a classic mammalian camouflage technique known as disruptive coloration. When viewed from below against the lighter sky, this light ventral side helps to break up the animal's silhouette, making detection more difficult for predators approaching from that angle.
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