Wild Colors
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King penguin ( Aptenodytes patagonica)
Male drill ( Mandrillus leucophaeus) |
African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus) |
Hiding
Hiding is a way of life for many species. Penguins and some fish sport
two-toned camouflage. Viewed from underneath, the creatures’ light breasts
blend into the bright surface of the water; viewed from above, their dark
coloration resembles the murky water below.
“It’s a color adaptation that has developed, like all adaptations, over the
course of millions of years,” says Megan Wilson, curator of Regenstein
African Journey and Carnivores.
The white coats of polar bears disappear against their snowy environs,
helping them stay hidden before they pounce on prey. Madagascar hissing
cockroaches are easily mistaken for leaf litter coating the forest floor.
Communication
Color is used for interspecies communication (“Stay away!”), but it is also
commonly used to disperse information among members of the same group.
African wild dogs use color to communicate with pack mates.
Their black and brown splotchy markings label them like name tags, and their
white tails serve as markers in the brown brush in which they hunt. They’re
nicknamed “painted dogs” for a reason.
Western lowland gorilla youngsters have a tuft of white hair on their
behinds that lets the others know to play gentle. And male drills have
brightly colored rumps of blue, purple, red and yellow. As the leaders of
their groups, their eye-catching backsides serve as flags for subordinates
to follow.
“Drills’ behinds also communicate emotion,” says Andy Henderson, the zoo’s
primate supervisor. “At times of excitement or agitation the colors flush,
becoming much more intense, which alerts group mates.”
Next: Self Portraits
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