Not So Black and White

Some animals can see color better than humans can, while other animals have limited color vision.
Which animals see what?

Color Vision: Most humans have no problem seeing color because we have both rods and cones in the retinas of our eyes; rods detect light and cones detect color. Humans have three sets of cones for color detection. Monkeys, birds, squirrels, fish, and insects can see color almost as well as humans can. This helps them find food, know if fruit is ripe, and identify predators. In fact, bees and butterflies can see ultraviolet color and can distinguish between mixed color and pure colors. This helps them make their way into flowers.

Color Blindness: Nocturnal creatures such as dogs, cats, rats, mice, and rabbits can’t see color very well. These animals have fewer cones, so they see mostly grays, yellows, and blues. But they do have more rods, so they have better night vision than humans.

Sea mammals like sea lions, dolphins, and whales are completely color-blind. And contrary to popular belief, bulls don’t charge at a cap because it is red; they chart at it because it is moving.