This is how Earth became colorful
What's the story
Over billions of years, our planet has evolved from a world of muted tones to a kaleidoscope of color.
This transition is due to the evolution of life toward color, a process that started with early organisms getting the ability to tell light from dark over 600 million years ago.
This first step in visual perception allowed these primitive life forms to navigate their environment and respond to potential threats effectively.
Trichromatic evolution
Evolution of trichromatic vision and its significance
About 500-550 million years ago, during the Cambrian explosion, animals evolved to have trichromatic vision. This enabled them to see red, green, and blue colors.
The first creatures to have the sophisticated visual capability were arthropods (insects and crustaceans).
Later, vertebrates also evolved to have trichromatic vision between 420-500 million years ago, improving their ability to spot prey/predators and choose mates.
Visual adaptation
Trilobites' compound eyes and color evolution in plants
Trilobites, now-extinct marine arthropods, had compound eyes with multiple lenses that allowed them to see in dim waters. This visual adaptation gave them a survival advantage.
Ironically, these creatures were able to perceive color before they themselves became colorful.
The first burst of bright colors on Earth was introduced by early plants that evolved colorful fruits and flowers to attract animals for pollination and seed dispersal.
Color explosion
The Cretaceous period and the color explosion
Fruits evolved 300-377 million years ago, when seed-dispersing creatures roamed the Earth.
Flowers came much later, 140-250 million years ago, changing Earth's color palette forever.
During the Cretaceous period, more than 100 million years ago, flowering plants flourished. Their colorful petals attracted pollinators such as bees and butterflies, resulting in a colorful explosion that changed ecosystems.
Animal hues
Animal coloration and its evolutionary significance
Until about 140 million years ago, animals mostly had dull shades of brown and gray.
However, as evolution progressed, more vibrant colors started appearing.
These colors served various purposes such as signaling dominance, attracting mates or deterring predators.
Fossilized evidence from dinosaurs like Anchiornis suggests red feathers were used for display purposes while some snake fossils from 10 million years ago reveal green and black scales.
Survival strategy
Color as a survival mechanism and future implications
Not all animals employed color for attraction.
Some species, like poison frogs, evolved bright hues to warn predators of their toxicity, a survival mechanism called aposematism. Others opted to stay camouflaged to not attract attention.
Today, climate change, pollution and habitat loss are shaping this evolution of color on Earth.
For example, some fish are losing their vibrant colors in polluted waters due to toxins disrupting pigmentation and communication signals essential for survival.