Just some minor observations on animal 'camouflage', for example tiger stripes and leopard spots, and why they should be use with carefully as a specific example.*
A great shot of a leopard which gets widely published is usually one in relative bright, low-angle light of the animal out in the open not actively stalking or hunting seen by us humans through a camera lens. It is bit like a soldier standing to attention during a ceremony on the parade ground as seen by a (enemy?) crow overlooking the scene.
1) For a leopard's prey, a deer, orange or reddish tones don't stand out of green and brown ones of similar brightness.
2) The colour spectrum of the predator, prey and habitat during it's prime hunting periods over the 24 h cycle is is different from the one observed during day time. Leopars tend to spent most of the day hidden and resting, investing their energy ressources when their chances are relatively high. Too much activity also tends to spook the jungle.
3) Cats see better at night then primates while their sight is more accute then deer prey. Truth be told I don't know how much light they gather relative to deer, but in general a stalk is easier in during a time full of long shadows, low light and coarse vision resolution.
4) Their coloration, patter and counter-shadowing works in conjunction with 1-3 plus the their often amazing fieldcraft in stalking, using terrain, vegation and shadows.
There is obviously not only the prey-predator relationship but also the role of competitors (bears, some birds), potential predators (tigers) and other jungle folk. For example some birds and monkeys are know to be keen spotters (generally in good light conditions) of the cats and sound loud warnings.
*There are of course many valid tendencies to be gained by close study.
It is overall a vast and rich topic with deep ties to other threads like animal vision and many others. So much to learn and understand and so little time. A nice primer on animal eyes by a lecture of Gresham university. New insights in Deer vision is of particular interest for hunters and other predators, showing also the evolutionary response of the prey's eye sight. You learn a great deal IMHO from different sources like Corbett books and Peterson Reference Guide to the Behavior of North American Mammals and from your personal experience out in the woods, up the mountains facing some animal stare.
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