Lawrence, Yuri and Lamm, Ahmed (2012) Colouration, camouflage and mimicry in Animals. Academic Studio, Delhi, India. ISBN 9788132306900
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Abstract
Animal colouration has been a topic of interest and research in biology for well over a century. Colours may be cryptic (functioning as an adaptation allowing the prevention of prey detection; aposematic (functioning as a warning of unprofitability) or may be the result of sexual selection. Colouration may also be function in mimicry of other organisms. The subject may be investigated in terms of both the chemical and physical basis of the colours (proximate cause) and the evolution of colouration (ultimate cause). Camouflage is generally viewed as a result of natural selection and involves an organism's colour blending in with its biotic (e.g., moss) or abiotic (e.g., sand surroundings. Camouflage is often accompanied by behavioural adaptations that make the most of it, such as landing on areas of similar color, and aligning the body correctly. It may involve costs as well as benefits, such as the cost of finding a suitable resting spot. Colour may change during the seasons, during an organism's life cycle, or even over very brief intervals, such as with the chameleon. Polymorphism may also occur, allowing individuals of the same species to have different camouflage, and making prey detection more difficult for predators. Organisms living in the same environment may come to have similar colouration through convergent evolution. Colours are an aspect of only one of the senses, and although the visual system is most important for humans, some animals cannot even see (such as those living in caves, underground, in the deep sea, or those active at night) and their colour may be of little or no adaptive value. These organisms rely primarily on other senses, such as olfaction and hearing, and even electroreception.
| Item Type: | Book |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology |
| Divisions: | Electronic Books |
| Depositing User: | Esam @ Hisham Muhammad |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jan 2024 06:10 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jan 2024 06:10 |
| URI: | http://odlsystem2.utm.my/id/eprint/4311 |
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