Color in Nature

A marvellously illustrated guide to colour in the natural world.

Recent years have seen tremendous strides in the fields of vision, visual ecology, and our own multilayered experience of colour in life and the world. These advances have been driven by astonishing discoveries in neuroscience and evolutionary biology as well as psychology and design. This beautifully illustrated book unlocks nature’s colourful purpose, revealing how creatures see colour as well as shedding light on the important part that it plays in animal behaviour, from reproduction and communication to aggression and defense. Color in Nature also places the human experience and uses of colour in the context of all the colours around us, both in the natural world and in the world that we humans create for our own pleasure and purpose. A wide-ranging survey of a vibrant and compelling topic, Color in Nature will open your eyes to new ways of perceiving the world.



Features a wealth of stunning colour illustrations
Explains what colour is and how it happens
Covers the physics, genetics, chemistry, physiology, and psychology of animal colour perception
Discusses colours humans don’t see or rarely use
Sheds light on the evolution of colours for mating, hunting, fighting, deceiving, and hiding
Provides insights into colour blindness, bio-inspired colours, and people’s appreciation for art and design

Format: Hardback
Pages: 288
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 05/11/2024