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zuz
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Do any animals see in a spectrum other than visible light and infrared?
I found several images of how humans and bees view flowers differently.hutchphd said:Bees and butterflies see into the ultraviolet. But as far as I know most animal vision is rather narrowly centered at the max solar ouput (yellow light).
Because we cannot see UV light, the colours in these photographs are representational, but the patterns are real.
The wide variety of nonspectral colours available to birds is the result of their ancient four colour cone visual system.
"Tetrachromacy — having four colour cone types — evolved in early vertebrates," said Stoddard. "This colour vision system is the norm for birds, many fish and reptiles, and it almost certainly existed in dinosaurs. We think the ability to perceive many nonspectral colours is not just a feat of hummingbirds but a widespread feature of animal colour vision.
For humans, purple is the clearest example of a nonspectral colour. Technically, purple is not in the rainbow: it arises when our blue (short-wave) and red (long-wave) cones are stimulated, but not green (medium-wave) cones. While humans perceive just one kind of nonspectral colour — purple — birds can theoretically see up to five: purple, ultraviolet+red, ultraviolet+green, ultraviolet+yellow and ultraviolet+purple.
Studying animals beyond visible light and infrared allows us to understand the full range of sensory abilities and adaptations in different species. This can provide insights into their behavior, communication, and survival strategies.
Some animals, such as bees and birds, have specialized photoreceptors that allow them to see ultraviolet light. Others, like snakes and pit vipers, have specialized organs that can detect infrared radiation. These adaptations give them a wider range of vision beyond what humans can see.
Yes, some animals use bioluminescence, the production of light by living organisms, to communicate with each other. This can be seen in fireflies, deep-sea creatures, and even some land animals like glowworms.
Studying animals beyond visible light and infrared can provide insights into how we can improve our own technology and medical treatments. For example, studying the eyes of nocturnal animals can help us develop better night vision technology, and studying the infrared sensing abilities of snakes can help us develop better heat sensors for medical imaging.
There may be ethical concerns with using animals for scientific research, but these concerns can be addressed by following ethical guidelines and regulations. Additionally, many studies can be done non-invasively using non-invasive imaging techniques, reducing harm to the animals.