Answer to Question #60128 in Evolution for Sanjukta Ghosh

Question

Is the following correct?

Difference between ecological colour and seasonal colour:

Ecological colour

It is the colour that remain throught the year and does not change with season. e.g.- Cryptic colouration in Gazelles.

Seasonal colour

It is the colour which appears with the onset of a specific time of the year and is eventually lost. e.g.- Sexual colouration in male birds and the occurance of winter pelage in Arctic mammals.

Answer 1

It is completely correct about the seasonal colour. However, in case of ecological colour the example is good but the description is not very accurate. I would say that ecological colour is the colour that remain through the year, does not change with season, and contributes to the particular function, such as protective, camouflage or informative (about the ability to produce toxin for example).