When Fish Show Us All Their Colors!

Beneath the water’s surface, a dazzling spectacle of colors awaits divers and nature lovers. Whether bright and vibrant or discreet and uniform, the colors of fish are never random. They play an essential role in their lives: attracting a mate, escaping predators, or blending into the environment. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of marine […]

Beneath the water’s surface, a dazzling spectacle of colors awaits divers and nature lovers. Whether bright and vibrant or discreet and uniform, the colors of fish are never random. They play an essential role in their lives: attracting a mate, escaping predators, or blending into the environment. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of marine colors and uncover their secrets!

Fish Biodiversity 3
The magnificent red robe, dotted with blue, of the red grouper, Cephalopholis miniata, reflects pigment cells called chromatophores. Star-shaped, these cells, found in the dermis and epidermis of the fish, are the source of the chemical colors of fish. © Nicolas Barraqué

The origin of colors: pigments and physics

But where do these incredible color palettes come from? The answer lies in specialized cells, the chromatophores, and the laws of physics!

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