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Marine life showing its true colors

Date:
September 21, 2016
Source:
The University of Queensland
Summary:
Cephalopods -- cuttlefish, squid and octopus -- are renowned for their fast color changes and remarkable camouflage abilities. Now researchers have established that colorful coastal cephalopods are actually colorblind -- but can still manage to blend beautifully with their surroundings.
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Researchers at The University of Queensland have established that colourful coastal cephalopods are actually colourblind -- but can still manage to blend beautifully with their surroundings.

Cephalopods -- cuttlefish, squid and octopus -- are renowned for their fast colour changes and remarkable camouflage abilities.

Professor Justin Marshall and Dr Wensung Chung from the Queensland Brain Institute also found that squid have the ability to adapt their vision depending on the colour and depth of the water they live in.

Professor Marshall said this latest research into cephalopods provided fascinating insights into how the remarkably intelligent creatures interacted with their world.

"These engaging and charismatic animals can display complex, bright colour patterns on their skin, but our studies have reconfirmed beyond doubt that they are colourblind," Professor Marshall said.

"It is ironic then that humans still struggle to spot them in the natural habitat where their camouflage is perfectly matched with the surroundings."

The research also found that squid have evolved spectral tuning, and can change their visual focus from green, in coastal waters, to blue, to match deep sea conditions.

"Everyone loves an octopus and finding out more about the way they and their cousins see their world is a treat and a privilege," Professor Marshall said.

The research, published in Proceedings B.


Story Source:

Materials provided by The University of Queensland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Wen-Sung Chung, N. Justin Marshall. Comparative visual ecology of cephalopods from different habitats. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2016; 283 (1838): 20161346 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1346

Cite This Page:

The University of Queensland. "Marine life showing its true colors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 September 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160921161314.htm>.
The University of Queensland. (2016, September 21). Marine life showing its true colors. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 5, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160921161314.htm
The University of Queensland. "Marine life showing its true colors." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160921161314.htm (accessed December 5, 2024).

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