We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Behavior

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Can Blind Animals Detect Color?

Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 2,787
References
Share

Close your eyes and try to pick out blue from an assortment of crayons. It might sound impossible, but a roundworm known as Caenorhabditis elegans can do it. Remarkably, the roundworms are so blind they don't have even basic light-sensing systems, but under a series of tests, scientists were able to prove that the little creatures could avoid blue, which happens to be the color of a common toxin that will kill them.

The researchers used a variety of methods to test the worms, including manipulating the color of the toxin and testing with bright light and dim light. "We were able to definitively show that worms aren't sensing the world in grayscale and simply evaluating the levels of brightness and darkness," biologist Dipon Ghosh said in a statement. "They're actually comparing ratios of wavelengths and using that information to make decisions — which was thoroughly unexpected." Previous research on C. elegans has shown that they can sense temperature, and are able to smell, taste, and feel.

Blindness in nature:

  • Several animal species are blind from birth, including eyeless shrimp, star-nosed moles, and cave salamanders known as olms.

  • There are approximately 36 million blind people in the world, although another 217 million are moderately to severely visually impaired.

  • Animals that are born blind include elephants, giant pandas, and cats.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://direct.wisegeek.com/can-blind-animals-detect-color.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.