Study maps dramatic timeline of when animals began seeing colours

A new study led by researchers at the University of Arizona has shed light on the evolution of colour vision and colour signalling in animals. The research, published in the journal Biological Reviews, reveals that colour vision in animals evolved approximately 500 million years ago, significantly predating the emergence of colourful fruits and flowers. The study identified two primary types of colour signals used by animals: warning signals and sexual signals. Warning signals, which emerged around 150 million years ago, are used by toxic species such as venomous snakes and poison frogs to deter potential predators. The study also revealed a "dramatic explosion" of both warning and sexual colour signals in the last 100 million years.