Sand Fleas (IMAGE)
Caption
The researchers studied a species of sand flea (or mole crab) (Hippa testudinaria), which lives on the beaches of Ascension island. They showed that the brightness and the coloration of fleas living on different beaches is extremely different and that this is in line with the large differences in the colour of the beaches where they live. By modelling predator (bird) vision with image analysis techniques, they showed that the sand fleas are extremely well camouflaged to the respective beaches on which they are found. That is, individuals are dark black when found on black sandy beaches, and light yellow when on light yellow sand.
Credit
Alice Lown / Martin Stevens
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