Evolution of Animal Coloration

“The coloration of some animals has evolved based on their habitat. This is an example of natural selection. The coloration, color, shape, and camouflage of animals are based on the environment they live in and this helps their chances of survival.”

— Henry

Evolution of Animal Coloration

Edward Howard Burt states that “animal coloration, in ​biology​, is the general appearance of an organism as determined by the quality and quantity of light​ that is reflected or emitted from its surfaces. He continues with, coloration depends upon several factors: the color and distribution of the organism’s biochromes (pigments), particularly the relative location of differently colored areas; the shape, posture, position, and movement of the organism; and the quality and quantity of light striking the organism. complex characteristic and must be clearly distinguished from the concept of “color,” which refers only to the spectral qualities of emitted or reflected light.” (​Britannica.com​)

The coloration of some animals has evolved based on their habitat. This is an example of natural selection. The coloration, color, shape, and camouflage of animals are based on the environment they live in and this helps their chances of survival.

A newsela article written by​ Wayne Iwan Lee Davies and Shaun Collin states that ​where animals come from determines a lot of the attributes that that animal holds. One being the color or shade of the skin and fur, coat, feathers of the animal. An example of this is the color of skin that an animal has. In colder climates of the planet the skin color of animals there normally have a lighter skin color. This is true for humans as well. The skin and ear color of humans have evolved and become lighter as they migrated out of Africa into colder areas. In hotter areas of the planet, animals tend to have darker skin pigmentation (​Newsela.com​). For most animals, their outer layer or their fur, feathers or other body covering has evolved into camouflage. An example of this is the arctic fox. The arctic fox has a very white coat of fur and this helps the fox hide in the snow that covers a lot of the area in the arctic. An animal's skin and ear color as well as their outer layer all help them survive in their different areas. This is an example of natural selection.

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_____Henry_____

To wrap up all of this information on animal coloration and the evolution of the outer layer and skin color of animals a quote that Charles Darwin gave, found on the Wikipedia page for animal coloration, gives a great overview of animal coloration and natural selection …

“When we see leaf-eating insects green, and bark-feeders mottled-grey; the alpine ptarmigan white in winter, the red-grouse the color of heather, and the black-grouse that of peaty earth, we must believe that these tints are of service to these birds and insects in preserving them from danger. Grouse, if not destroyed at some period of their lives, would increase in countless numbers; they are known to suffer largely from birds of prey, and hawks are guided by eyesight to their prey, so much so, that on parts of the Continent persons are warned not to keep white pigeons, as being the most liable to destruction. Hence I can see no reason to doubt that natural selection might be most effective in giving the proper color to each kind of grouse, and in keeping that color, when once acquired, true and constant.” (​Wikipedia.org​)

Over time as the population of animals changes and the “forces” of natural selection help to shave off the “imperfect of the litter” animals and their skin color and outer layer help them to survive and thrive in their environment.

Sources:

“Animal Coloration.” ​Wikipedia​, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 May 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_coloration.

Losey, George S., et al. “Coloration.” ​Encyclopædia Britannica​, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 7 Feb. 2019, ​www.britannica.com/science/coloration-biology.m

Davis, Wayne Iwan Lee, and Shawn Collin. “Big Questions: Why Do Baby Animals Have Pink Ears?” ​Newsela​, 24 Mar. 2020, newsela.com/read/elem-big-q-why-do-animals-have-pink-ears/id/40561/?collection_id=3 39&search_id=0dbfe785-a9a8-4b98-9331-9c166eef1010.

Cloudsley-Thompson JL. Multiple factors in the evolution of animal coloration.

Naturwissenschaften​. 1999;86(3):123-132. doi:10.1007/s001140050584

Images:

“Nie 1905 Darwin Charles - Charles Darwin, HD Png Download , Transparent Png Image - PNGitem.” ​PNGitem.com​, 2020, www.pngitem.com/middle/iwwRxw_nie-1905-darwin-charles-charles-darwin-hd-png/​.

Library, Mountain View Public. “Animal Coloration.” ​Free Homework Help​, 1 Jan. 1970, mvplteen.blogspot.com/2018/05/animal-coloration.html.

“Arctic Fox.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Apr. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_fox.

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