Color in Nature

A marvelously illustrated guide to color in the natural world

Recent years have seen tremendous strides in the fields of vision, visual ecology, and our own multilayered experience of color 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 colorful purpose, revealing how creatures see color as well as shedding light on the important part that it plays in animal behavior, from reproduction and communication to aggression and defense. Color in Nature also places the human experience and uses of color in the context of all the colors 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 color illustrations
• Explains what color is and how it happens
• Covers the physics, genetics, chemistry, physiology, and psychology of animal color perception
• Discusses colors humans don’t see or rarely use
• Sheds light on the evolution of colors for mating, hunting, fighting, deceiving, and hiding
• Provides insights into color blindness, bio-inspired colors, and people’s appreciation for art and design

Justin Marshall is professor emeritus of neuroscience and marine biology at the University of Queensland. Anya Hurlbert is professor of visual neuroscience at Newcastle University. Jane Boddy is a color trend forecaster based in London, and is a creative contributor to the Pantone Color Institute. Thomas Cronin is professor of biological sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Ron Douglas is emeritus professor in the Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences at City, University of London. Sönke Johnsen is professor of biology at Duke University. Fabio Cortesi is a research fellow and group leader in the School of the Environment at the University of Queensland.