Most older Americans probably think of red, white, and blue. Some children may think of bright yellow and other exploding parts of the color spectrum associated with fireworks.
Color is clearly an important component of our lives.
It is also a defining part of the lives of many plants and animals and frequently tells an environmental story. Camouflage is a common characteristic of animals whose lifestyles require that they not be easily seen. The spotted coats of adult leopards and baby deer help them hide from the eyes of other animals, prey in the case of leopards, predators in the case of fawns. Although their reasons for having spots are different, both are clearly adapted for blending into particular habitats. Numerous examples exist for which the environment dictates the color pattern, whether for protection of a prey species or for stealth in a predator.