coloration: Media

biology

Videos

How chromatophores give anoles the power to change color
The anole changes color in response to its stress level.
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
How chameleons change color—and why
Contrary to popular belief, chameleons don't actually change color to blend into...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Observe a cuttlefish changing its colour as it swims near the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia
A cuttlefish changing colour as it swims near the Great Barrier Reef, off the northeastern...
Video: © Fun Travel TV (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
Know about the two optical structures of blue-rayed limpet that give the blue-rayed limpet its unique and brilliant blue stripes
Learn about the optical structures that give the blue-rayed limpet (Patella pellucida)...
Video: © Massachusetts Institute of Technology (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
How do octopuses and other cephalopods know what colours to display so as to hide from predators or to attract mates?
How do “colour-blind” octopuses know what colour to change to in order to hide from...
Video: Displayed by permission of The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

Images

Caribbean flamingo
Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) showing carotenoid pigmentation...
C. Laubscher/Bruce Coleman Inc.
white-crested turacos
The red colour in the wings of white-crested turacos (Tauraco leucolophus)...
Kenneth Fink—Root Resources/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
butterfly fish
The silvery appearance of the butterfly fish (Chaetodon) is due to a deposit...
Bruce Barnetson—NHPA/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
coloration; guinea pigs
Five guinea pigs showing different inherited coloration.
© Erik Lam/Shutterstock.com
flatfish
Background matching by a flatfish on a sandy bottom floor.
Jen & Des Bartlett/Bruce Coleman Inc.
plains zebras at a waterhole
Plains zebras (Equus quagga) at a waterhole, an example of coloration disruption.
Gerald Cubitt
moorish idol
The disruptive markings of the moorish idol (Zanclus canescens).
Douglas Faulkner
Uganda kobs
Uganda kobs (Kobs kob thomasi) exemplifying countershading.
Leonard Lee Rue III
male frigate bird
Flash colours: male frigate bird (Fregata minor) with red throat patch inflated...
© Kojo Tanaka, Animals Animals
cock of the rock
Display coloration of cock of the rock (Rupicola rupicola).
K.W. Fink/Bruce Coleman Inc.
male mandrill
Courtship coloration of a mammal: male mandrill (Mandrillus sphynx).
George H. Harrison—Grant Heilman/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
evening primrose
An evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) seen (top) in visible light and...
Thomas Eisner
Iris
A blue iris (Iris) with contrasting yellow nectar guides indicating the...
© G.A. Maclean/Oxford Scientific Films
sexual deception in orchids
The labellum of the mirror ophrys (Ophrys speculum). The colouring so closely...
E.S. Ross
blue-ringed octopus
A blue-ringed octopus (genus Hapalochlaena) flashing its blue-ring pattern...
© Sascha Janson/Shutterstock.com
arrow-poison frog (Dendrobates)
Arrow-poison frog (genus Dendrobates).
Joseph T. Collins, Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas
common octopus
At rest, the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) blends into its surroundings.
© Marineland of Florida
common octopus
The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) may blanch when agitated.
© Marineland of Florida
adaptive colour change
Adaptive colour change: the gradual colour change of the green anole (Anolis...
John H. Gerard
white-tailed ptarmigan with winter plumage
White-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) with winter plumage.
Kenneth W. Fink—Root Resources/EB inc.
white-tailed ptarmigan with summer plumage
White-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) with brown mottled summer plumage.
C.A. Morgan
snowshoe hare
Snowshoe, or varying, hare (Lepus americanus) displaying its white-coloured...
© jimcumming88/stock.adobe.com
Blue arrow-poison frogs (Dendrobates azureus) can communicate through sound...
© kikkerdirk/Fotolia
The size of the black throat patch of the male house sparrow (Passer domesticus)...
© Steve Byland/Dreamstime.com