Colorfully Camouflaging Cuttlefish Are Colorblind

Cuttlefish are remarkable for their ability to camouflage despite being colorblind. Scientists have long debated how they achieve this, with early studies showing they have only one visual pigment. Recent research has tested their camouflage on various patterns, confirming their colorblindness. Theories suggest they might see with their skin or use chromatic aberration to discern colors. However, these theories remain unproven, especially regarding their ability to camouflage at night. The mystery of how cuttlefish achieve such effective camouflage continues to intrigue scientists.

What is the primary reason cuttlefish are considered camouflage experts?

• They can mimic colors despite being colorblind.

• They use sound to detect colors.

• They can see in the dark.

• They have multiple visual pigments.

What did early 20th-century biologists discover about cuttlefish eyes?

• They can see in infrared.

• They are sensitive to ultraviolet light.

• They have multiple visual pigments.

• They contain only one visual pigment.

Which theory suggests that cuttlefish might perceive colors through their skin?

• Chromatic aberration

• Skin-based vision using opsins

• Ultraviolet sensitivity

• Infrared detection

What is chromatic aberration?

• A method of detecting sound waves

• A phenomenon where different colors focus at different distances

• A type of visual pigment in cuttlefish

• A way to see in the dark

Why are scientists skeptical about the chromatic aberration hypothesis?

• It contradicts the skin-based vision theory.

• It doesn't explain their ability to see in the dark.

• It has only been tested with computer models.

• It requires cuttlefish to have multiple visual pigments.