Colouration in Nature
Almost nothing in evolution occurs by accident. When you see a set of particular traits across an entire animal species, therefore, it is generally safe to assume that they serve some purpose. Markings are always important indicators of what a species needs most, as an animal can only have one set of markings at any given time to help them survive. Though humans are still decoding the functions of common markings in mammals and other animals, there are a few standard ones we have come to recognize. Generally, patterns in nature are used for mating, camouflage, signaling, threatening or disguising. Often, patterns reflect a creature's surrounding environment. Tigers, for example, hunt in grasslands, so they have vertical stripes. Jaguars hunt in forests, so they have patterns that look like leaves. Here are a few common patterns and their uses:- Bright colours — indicate poisons
- Environmental camouflage — conceals the wearer
- Striped tails — communicates location and other information
- Elaborate patterns in males only — attracts females