Brown Bats and Blue Frogs

Inside your eyes are special sensors called rods and cones. Rods and cones are much too small for you to see, but they're working whenever you open your eyes. Rods have one job-to help you see when there's hardly any light. Cones have another-to help you see colors.

Some animals, like bats, sleep during the day and stay awake all night. They don't need to see colors, but they do need to see well in the dark. Their eyes have lots of rods but not many cones. They see the world in black, white, and gray.

Other animals, like birds and people, have eyes with lots of cones. They see the world in beautiful color.

See Me Colors

Animals that see in color are often brightly colored themselves. The bold blue feathers of this honeycreeper may help other honeycreepers recognize him among the green and brown trees of the rainforest.

A male cardinal uses his bright red feathers to catch the attention of female birds. But female cardinals are much less flashy. Their dull-colored feathers blend in with brown leaves and branches and help them hide from animals that might want to eat them.

In the warm waters of a coral reef, fish come in all sorts of crazy colors. These colors may warn other fish: This is my spot on the reef. Stay away, or risk a fight!

The neon colors of this sea slug's squishy skin warn enemies that the slug isn't good to eat. A fish that's tried the terrible taste of one bright purple sea slug won't want to try again.

Most of the time, a blue morpho butterfly perches with its wings closed, so the brown undersides show.

But when a hungry bird flies near, the butterfly quickly opens its wings. The sudden, surprising flash of bright blue confuses the bird while the butterfly gets away.

Can't See Me Colors

Can you find the baby fawn? With its brown and white spotted coat, it's well hidden in the dry brown leaves. Baby animals can't defend themselves against enemies, so the dull colors of their feathers or fur help them stay out of sight.

Color helps animals hunt, too. This mantis's pink, purple, and white body blends in perfectly with the pretty flowers. A bug flying by won't see a thing until it's too late-gulp!

To help it stay hidden, an ermine has to change color with the seasons. In the summer, its fur is brown, but when the snow starts to fall, it sheds its brown coat and grows a new white one for winter.

Chameleons can change color, too. Most of the time, a chameleon's dull greenish color helps it hide in the trees. But a chameleon quickly changes color and becomes easy to spot when it warns another chameleon to back off.

Bright or dull, an animal's colors help it survive, and they're fun to look at too.

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