Why Aren't Mammals More Colorful

The video explores why mammals are generally less colorful than other animals, tracing the evolutionary reasons back to the Mesozoic Era. It explains how pigments like melanin contribute to mammal coloration and discusses the limited color vision in most mammals compared to other species. The nocturnal lifestyle of early mammals during the dinosaur era led to a genetic bottleneck, affecting their color vision and UV protection. Primates, including humans, have evolved better color vision, allowing for more vibrant coloration. Despite these limitations, humans can add color through clothing.

What is the primary pigment responsible for coloration in mammals?

• Carotenoids

• Chlorophyll

• Melanin

• Hemoglobin

Which type of coloration is primarily responsible for the blue color seen in some animals?

• Pigment-based coloration

• Structural coloration

• Dietary coloration

• Chemical coloration

How many types of cone cells do most mammals have?

• Four

• Three

• Two

• One

What evolutionary strategy might have helped early mammals avoid competition with dinosaurs?

• Being nocturnal

• Being herbivorous

• Being aquatic

• Being diurnal

What is the term for the evolutionary hypothesis that suggests mammals adapted to a nocturnal lifestyle during the Mesozoic Era?

• Diurnal adaptation hypothesis

• Nocturnal bottleneck hypothesis

• Color vision hypothesis

• UV protection hypothesis