History Animal coloration

robert hooke s micrographia

animal coloration has been topic of interest , research in biology centuries. in classical era, aristotle recorded octopus able change coloration match background, , when alarmed.

in 1665 book micrographia, robert hooke describes fantastical (structural, not pigment) colours of peacock s feathers:

the parts of feathers of glorious bird appear, through microscope, no less gaudy whole feathers; for, naked eye tis evident stem or quill of each feather in tail sends out multitudes of lateral branches, ... each of threads in microscope appears large long body, consisting of multitude of bright reflecting parts.

... upper sides seem me consist of multitude of thin plated bodies, exceeding thin, , lie close together, , thereby, mother of pearl shells, not onely reflect brisk light, tinge light in curious manner; , means of various positions, in respect of light, reflect 1 colour, , another, , vividly. now, these colours onely fantastical ones, is, such arise refractions of light, found this, water wetting these colour d parts, destroy d colours, seem d proceed alteration of reflection , refraction.

according charles darwin s 1859 theory of natural selection, features such coloration evolved providing individual animals reproductive advantage. example, individuals better camouflage others of same species would, on average, leave more offspring. in origin of species, darwin wrote:

when see leaf-eating insects green, , bark-feeders mottled-grey; alpine ptarmigan white in winter, red-grouse colour of heather, , black-grouse of peaty earth, must believe these tints of service these birds , insects in preserving them danger. grouse, if not destroyed @ period of lives, increase in countless numbers; known suffer largely birds of prey; , hawks guided eyesight prey, so, on parts of continent persons warned not keep white pigeons, being liable destruction. hence can see no reason doubt natural selection might effective in giving proper colour each kind of grouse, , in keeping colour, when once acquired, true , constant.

henry walter bates s 1863 book naturalist on river amazons describes extensive studies of insects in amazon basin, , butterflies. discovered apparently similar butterflies belonged different families, harmless species mimicking poisonous or bitter-tasting species reduce chance of being attacked predator, in process called after him, batesian mimicry.

warning coloration of skunk in edward bagnall poulton s colours of animals, 1890

edward bagnall poulton s darwinian 1890 book colours of animals, meaning , use, considered in case of insects argued case 3 aspects of animal coloration broadly accepted today controversial or wholly new @ time. supported darwin s theory of sexual selection, arguing obvious differences between male , female birds such argus pheasant selected females, pointing out bright male plumage found in species court day . book introduced concept of frequency-dependent selection, when edible mimics less frequent distasteful models colours , patterns copy. in book, poulton coined term aposematism warning coloration, identified in differing animal groups including mammals (such skunk), bees , wasps, beetles, , butterflies.

frank evers beddard s 1892 book, animal coloration, acknowledged natural selection existed examined application camouflage, mimicry , sexual selection critically. book in turn roundly criticised poulton.

in roseate spoonbills 1905–1909, abbott handerson thayer tried show bright pink of these conspicuous birds had cryptic function.

abbott handerson thayer s 1909 book concealing-coloration in animal kingdom, completed son gerald h. thayer, argued correctly widespread use of crypsis among animals, , in particular described , explained countershading first time. however, thayers spoilt case arguing camouflage sole purpose of animal coloration, led them claim brilliant pink plumage of flamingo or roseate spoonbill cryptic—against momentarily pink sky @ dawn or dusk. result, book mocked critics including theodore roosevelt having pushed [the doctrine of concealing coloration] such fantastic extreme , include such wild absurdities call application of common sense thereto.

hugh bamford cott s 500-page book adaptive coloration in animals, published in wartime 1940, systematically described principles of camouflage , mimicry. book contains hundreds of examples, on hundred photographs , cott s own accurate , artistic drawings, , 27 pages of references. cott focussed on maximum disruptive contrast , kind of patterning used in military camouflage such disruptive pattern material. indeed, cott describes such applications:

the effect of disruptive pattern break continuous surface appears number of discontinuous surfaces... contradict shape of body on superimposed.

animal coloration provided important evidence evolution natural selection, @ time when little direct evidence available.