Biological Coloration

Coloration is a Biological Process

Biological coloration is always exist in human being, animals and plants. Some color originated from pigments. Others are caused by structures of the surface tissues or feathers that reflect certain light rays and eliminate others. Bird for example don’t have true blue pigment. The brilliant blue of blue jays and other birds result from the reflection of light by highly specialized feathers. Animals always distinctive color patterns, for protection, to attract males or members of group, or to warn away enemies, plants use color to aid pollination.

Cryptic coloration, or general resemblance to surroundings, may conceal both predator and prey. Warning coloration (usually in insects and fish) consists of bold markings that warn predators away from inedible or poisonous animals. Species with neither cryptic nor warning coloration may resemble, or mimic, a warning colored animal or predator. Such deceptive coloration is called Batesian Mimicry.

Albinos are plants or animals that have no color when it is normal for their species to have color. True albinism is inherited. Albino plants lack of Chlorophyll, the green substance is necessary for the manufacture of food by photosynthesis; they are unable to live unless supplied with special nutrients.

There are many of coloration descriptions:

Cryptic Coloration

Cryptic coloration depend on the animal’s living place, habits, means of defense, and enemies. Fawns have spotted coats that aid in their concealments when they live motionless. Some nesting bird such as the woodcock nest in the open, but their coloration blends in so well within the grassy background that they are rendered virtually invisible. Plains animals depend less on coloration then on speed for survival, but they often have bold, disrupting marking to disguise their shapes and throw off an attacking predator.

Animals are generally darker on their back than on undersides. Since the light mostly falls above, the back is colored darker so that the overall hue corresponds to that of the underside, which is in shadow and therefore darker.

Seasonal Changes

Many animals and plants change color with the season. The snowshoe hare, for example, is brown in summer and autumn and turn while in winter. It is thus able to blend with its surroundings in all seasons. In the breeding season, many birds and fish change color to attract mates. In spring the usually dull colored male stickleback has a bright red belly that attracts females ready to spawn.

Sudden Changes

Some fish, reptiles, amphibians and mollusks can rapidly change colors to match their background or to express anger or fright. The best known animals capable of this is chameleon. Flounder are uniform in color on a uniformity colored background but become spotted on a spotted background. Sudden color changes are caused by the movement of pigment within cells called chromatophores.

Mimicry

Hoverflies are harmless and not protected by distasteful qualities, but many are marked and colored like wasps. Birds, deceived by this mimicry, do not attack. The North American monarch butterfly is poisonous and distasteful and protected by warning coloration. This coloration is mimicked by the viceroy butterfly, which is palatable.

Flowers

Colors and shapes attract insects to the center of a flower, where the nectar and pollen are located. While taking this food, the insect inadvertently carries pollen from flower to flowers; moths, most active at dusk or at night, pollinate mostly white flowers.

Some orchids resemble in color and shape the females of certain wasps or bees; the male insect becomes covered with pollen as it tries to copulated with the flower.