Animal Senses #4: Color Vision
Color vision doesn’t come from just the ability to detect different wavelengths, writes Ed Yong in Immense World . “It is about comparing them.” The signals from the three types of cones (Red, Green, Blue aka RGB) are added and subtracted by a complex of neurons. This “arithmetic” is called oppomency and is the basis of all color vision. Since different animals do the arithmetic differently, their sensation of color varies. Remember those super-colorful fish from movies like Finding Nemo ? Why on earth are they so colorful? Wouldn’t they be conspicuous to their predators? Aha, while it may be uber-conspicuous to us humans, they are perfectly camouflaged wrt their predators. Remember, the sensation of color is subjective. Scientists often use this subjectivity of color perception in two fascinating ways. Say, Species 1 preys on Species 2. The colors of Species 2 would probably be colors that Species 1 cannot see. Or if Species 3 wants to attract Species 4 (e.g...