Comments on: A real beauty! https://habitablezone.com/2011/08/23/a-real-beauty/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2011/08/23/a-real-beauty/#comment-5024 podrock Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:57:49 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=3193#comment-5024 If a trait, such as coloration, does not make the creature more likely to perish before reproducing, then it just doesn't matter. If a trait, such as coloration, does not make the creature more likely to perish before reproducing, then it just doesn’t matter.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2011/08/23/a-real-beauty/#comment-5023 ER Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:56:24 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=3193#comment-5023 I've heard that theory, too, and maybe there is something to it; but most of their potential predators are also color-blind or nocturnal invertebrates who hunt primarily by chemical sensors. I still can't help but suspect there is something else going on, some kind of adaptational over-response. I'm no creationist, but I still can't shake the nagging suspicion that there is more to evolution than we know, that there is something else going on we still haven't quite figured out. I've always been fascinated by these little guys, they are delightful. There used to be a web site that had a "sea slug of the day" picture every day, and they were always visually stunning. I’ve heard that theory, too, and maybe there is something to it; but most of their potential predators are also color-blind or nocturnal invertebrates who hunt primarily by chemical sensors. I still can’t help but suspect there is something else going on, some kind of adaptational over-response. I’m no creationist, but I still can’t shake the nagging suspicion that there is more to evolution than we know, that there is something else going on we still haven’t quite figured out.

I’ve always been fascinated by these little guys, they are delightful. There used to be a web site that had a “sea slug of the day” picture every day, and they were always visually stunning.

]]> By: Jody https://habitablezone.com/2011/08/23/a-real-beauty/#comment-5022 Jody Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:56:17 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=3193#comment-5022 They are breathtaking! I remember the first time I saw a stingray gliding through the ocean, I was overcome by her graceful display. It was as if they never existed for me until that very moment. I will never forget it. They are breathtaking!

I remember the first time I saw a stingray gliding through the ocean, I was overcome by her graceful display. It was as if they never existed for me until that very moment. I will never forget it.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/08/23/a-real-beauty/#comment-5021 TB Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:41:24 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=3193#comment-5021 The colorful ones mostly live in shallower water, and seem to have evolved bright coloration to advertise a variety of toxic defenses, much like the monarch butterfly or poisonous tropical frogs. It is true that their own eyesight is not that good. The colorful ones mostly live in shallower water, and seem to have evolved bright coloration to advertise a variety of toxic defenses, much like the monarch butterfly or poisonous tropical frogs. It is true that their own eyesight is not that good.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2011/08/23/a-real-beauty/#comment-5019 ER Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:41:15 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=3193#comment-5019 do a google "image" on "sea slugs" or look here http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/nudibranchs/doubilet-photography Most of these creatures are tiny, blind, nocturnal, and live in dark water. Why the colors? Sometimes I wonder if there isn't more to evolution than we think... do a google “image” on “sea slugs” or look here

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/nudibranchs/doubilet-photography

Most of these creatures are tiny, blind, nocturnal, and live in dark water. Why the colors?

Sometimes I wonder if there isn’t more to evolution than we think…

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