Primates' predators, such as carnivore mammals, usually rely on camouflage to increase proximity to prey and start a predatory attempt. Camouflage depends not only on the color pattern presented by a predator's pelage but also on the background scene ...
Primates' predators, such as carnivore mammals, usually rely on camouflage to increase proximity to prey and start a predatory attempt. Camouflage depends not only on the color pattern presented by a predator's pelage but also on the background scene in which the hunting takes place. Another factor that influences camouflage effectiveness is prey's color vision since a given camouflage strategy might not work for all visual phenotypes. Still, little research has been made on the effect of primate visual phenotype on predator detection. Here, we investigate the effects of natural pelages, background scenarios, visual phenotypes, and detection distances on predator detection. We used photographs of taxidermized carnivores (ocelots, cougars, and lesser grisons) as detection stimuli, taken in three different natural scenarios (forest, savanna, and grassland), and at two viewing distances (near and far). On a touchscreen monitor, sets of four images (only one containing a hidden animal) were randomly presented to 39 human males (19 dichromats and 20 trichromats). We found that trichromats, when compared to dichromats, present a lower latency and a higher accuracy of carnivore detection for some conditions tested. We also found that pelage color, background scenario, and detection distance interact to influence the effectiveness of camouflage. Our results suggest that trichromacy might be even more advantageous for carnivore detection than thought before, since it facilitates detection of mammals with diverse pelage colorations, in environments with different phytophysiognomies, and at longer distances. We also propose that the higher rates of dichromacy found in modern human societies could have resulted from a relaxation in predation.
Taxidermized model of an ocelot (Leopardus sp.) in the forest.
We observed a trichromatic advantage in detecting carnivore species displaying different color patterning, which were hidden in natural scenarios of diverse complexity (forest, savannah, and grassland).
Background scenario hampers detection of most carnivores with the increase in environment visual complexity, disregarding visual phenotype.
Disruptive pelage patterns are harder to detect at longer distances, probably because they hamper discrimination of body edges. Trichromats, however, are more prone to detect these patterns in complex backgrounds probably using chromatic cues.
Both visual phenotypes present the same detection accuracy at a closer range. However, detecting predators at greater distances may represent a great advantage for trichromats since it is harder for predators to get close undetected.
We observed a trichromatic advantage in detecting carnivore species displaying different color patterning, which were hidden in natural scenarios of diverse complexity (forest, savannah, and grassland).
Background scenario hampers detection of most carnivores with the increase in environment visual complexity, disregarding visual phenotype.
Disruptive pelage patterns are harder to detect at longer distances, probably because they hamper discrimination of body edges. Trichromats, however, are more prone to detect these patterns in complex backgrounds probably using chromatic cues.
Both visual phenotypes present the same detection accuracy at a closer range. However, detecting predators at greater distances may represent a great advantage for trichromats since it is harder for predators to get close undetected.