Many animals undergo seasonal changes in appearance for survival and adaptation. These changes typically occur through two main processes:
- Molting – shedding and replacing fur or feathers
- Color changes – alterations in fur, feather, or skin pigmentation
For example, Arctic foxes turn white in winter for camouflage in snow, while snowshoe hares shed brown summer coats for white winter ones. Birds often develop brighter plumage during breeding season. These changes are triggered by hormonal responses to changing day length and temperature, helping animals adapt to seasonal environmental conditions.