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Life in Colour: How Animals See the World
Beauty is more than skin deep.
In nature, colour is more than a source of beauty; it's a form of vital communication. Depending on the situation, colour says different things - it can be an expression of power or seduction, warning or deceit - and it can even, occasionally, save your life. Accompanying a major new BBC series with David Attenborough, Life in Colour explores the fascinating story of how colour works in the natural world. From the 'trichromatic' vision of Silver Leaf Langurs, which allows them to see orange and red against forest foliage - the colours not only of ripe fruit, but of their young - to African Mandrills who use their colouration to do battle, Professor Martin Stevens reveals a complex system of messaging visible only to those who know the code.
Based on the latest scientific research in the field, and illustrated with stunning photography throughout, Life in Colour reveals a world previously unknown to us.
In nature, colour is more than a source of beauty; it's a form of vital communication. Depending on the situation, colour says different things - it can be an expression of power or seduction, warning or deceit - and it can even, occasionally, save your life. Accompanying a major new BBC series with David Attenborough, Life in Colour explores the fascinating story of how colour works in the natural world. From the 'trichromatic' vision of Silver Leaf Langurs, which allows them to see orange and red against forest foliage - the colours not only of ripe fruit, but of their young - to African Mandrills who use their colouration to do battle, Professor Martin Stevens reveals a complex system of messaging visible only to those who know the code.
Based on the latest scientific research in the field, and illustrated with stunning photography throughout, Life in Colour reveals a world previously unknown to us.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2021
4 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 19, 2023
Ah, the pictures!! The photographs in this book are just magnificent and the colours are fantastic 🤩 Apart from that I agree with other community reviews that it would have been interesting to discuss a different approach to all of the astounding colours in nature other than evolution.
September 6, 2022
This book is very interesting with lots of great detailed descriptions of a wide variety of animals and animal behaviours to do with the way animals see colour and how they use it for deception, camouflage, warning signs, mating displays e.t.c. There are also beautiful photos accompanying many of the descriptions of each animal. My only problem with it, was the fact that the theory of evolution, was the only theory used to explain many of the features and behaviours of animals. It would have been nice, if it was more balanced and discussed a wider range of theories and ideas.
May 28, 2023
Most nature/wildlife enthusiasts will already know a lot of the stuff talked about in this book: e.g. how eyespots can potentially scare away would-be predators, how certain animals use built-in "baits" to reel in prey (like the anglerfish for one), how certain colour patterns may confuse attackers (as in the case of tsetse flies vs zebras), how vibrant colour signals good health & vitality and thus attracts more mates, etc.
What was new to me was the content about UV light and polarisation. For many years, my botanist professor friend and I had wondered about the purpose of some spiders constructing a vertical zigzag pattern on their webs. I had become curious about this phenomenon after photographing several webs with said pattern (they are truly remarkable to see btw!). We came up with several theories for it, like for instance it being for web reinforcement purposes. This book finally gave me the answer I'd been looking for: the zigzag pattern is to reflect UV light, which in turn attracts insects to the web! (Many insects are attracted by UV light it seems.) And as for polarisation, it seems many animals have this innate ability to help reduce glare/reflection so as to aid with more effective hunting. Iridescence and its purpose was also talked about quite comprehensively in the book.
The majority of examples mentioned come with accompanying photos, which greatly helps you understand and see what the author means. I was disappointed at the few examples which did not have photos. Also, I was surprised that the book didn't cover pandas at all and their strange colouration.
The book offers reasonable (and in many cases, scientifically validated) explanations for many of the colouration choices in animals, usually from an evolutionary perspective. But it doesn't explain why any one particular colouration choice wouldn't be chosen by all animals, like for instance, why marine animals with low defences wouldn't all choose to be transparent, rather than just match the colour of one or a few seaplants. It also doesn't sufficiently explain how exactly certain animals adopt the colouration they do. For example, we are told that some cuckoos' offspring have skintones that match exactly the chicks they plan to parasitise. How on earth do they manage this?! And what about the octopuses that can precisely and almost instantaneously match the colour & mottling of the backdrops they choose to camouflage in? We are told in some cases that scientists still don't understand the reason(s) why certain animals are coloured the way they are (e.g. some monkey babies being brightly-coloured as opposed to their parents being dull brown/grey), but what about how other animals achieve their colouration? Yes, we are told in many cases that it comes from their diet (e.g. flamingos, shrimp, geckos), but what about in other cases, like the aforementioned cuckoo chicks?
Overall this was an interesting and educational read. However, the book ultimately raises more questions than it answers.
P.S. Did you know that wasps have different faces?! Another interesting thing I learned from this book. There is a close-up photograph included that researchers took of multiple different wasps from the same hive, showing that each has different colours/patterns on various parts of their head! They are indeed quite distinct! Now you know how they tell one another apart!
What was new to me was the content about UV light and polarisation. For many years, my botanist professor friend and I had wondered about the purpose of some spiders constructing a vertical zigzag pattern on their webs. I had become curious about this phenomenon after photographing several webs with said pattern (they are truly remarkable to see btw!). We came up with several theories for it, like for instance it being for web reinforcement purposes. This book finally gave me the answer I'd been looking for: the zigzag pattern is to reflect UV light, which in turn attracts insects to the web! (Many insects are attracted by UV light it seems.) And as for polarisation, it seems many animals have this innate ability to help reduce glare/reflection so as to aid with more effective hunting. Iridescence and its purpose was also talked about quite comprehensively in the book.
The majority of examples mentioned come with accompanying photos, which greatly helps you understand and see what the author means. I was disappointed at the few examples which did not have photos. Also, I was surprised that the book didn't cover pandas at all and their strange colouration.
The book offers reasonable (and in many cases, scientifically validated) explanations for many of the colouration choices in animals, usually from an evolutionary perspective. But it doesn't explain why any one particular colouration choice wouldn't be chosen by all animals, like for instance, why marine animals with low defences wouldn't all choose to be transparent, rather than just match the colour of one or a few seaplants. It also doesn't sufficiently explain how exactly certain animals adopt the colouration they do. For example, we are told that some cuckoos' offspring have skintones that match exactly the chicks they plan to parasitise. How on earth do they manage this?! And what about the octopuses that can precisely and almost instantaneously match the colour & mottling of the backdrops they choose to camouflage in? We are told in some cases that scientists still don't understand the reason(s) why certain animals are coloured the way they are (e.g. some monkey babies being brightly-coloured as opposed to their parents being dull brown/grey), but what about how other animals achieve their colouration? Yes, we are told in many cases that it comes from their diet (e.g. flamingos, shrimp, geckos), but what about in other cases, like the aforementioned cuckoo chicks?
Overall this was an interesting and educational read. However, the book ultimately raises more questions than it answers.
P.S. Did you know that wasps have different faces?! Another interesting thing I learned from this book. There is a close-up photograph included that researchers took of multiple different wasps from the same hive, showing that each has different colours/patterns on various parts of their head! They are indeed quite distinct! Now you know how they tell one another apart!
April 10, 2022
Having started this book with great expectations, I have been disappointed and am returning a two-star rating. The thematic description of animal (and vegetable) behaviour is well illustrated with beautiful photography, and that is the only draw. The circular logic of the darwinist commentary is less appealing; I should have thought that the demonstrations made for camouflage and deception would be a great thorn in the side of evolution theory and natural selection, but there is no admission of this even as a possibility. I don't have any such religious allegiance to these philosophies and would have preferred a more open-minded approach. Thankfully, the whole book, for its surprising weight, is relatively short and, while reading fitfully, I am finished with it in a month.
September 6, 2023
A great book filled with some really interesting facts and details about how animals see the world and how they disguise themselves for food and protection. A good book for anyone with an interest in ecology.
January 17, 2023
A really fun insight into the way animals view colours and how they are used for different functions within the animal kingdom 🦜
September 11, 2024
i stopped evolving cause there's too many sweats
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews