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Color of Life
Enter the world of color. Live animals and stunning interactive environments take you over the rainbow and reveal the significant roles color plays across a spectrum of species.
See color for what it truly is: a major player in the natural world. From mating rituals to survival tactics, color plays a crucial part in the day-to-day life of countless species, and reveals the interconnectedness of life.
Explore color’s influence on animal behavior in a variety of habitats, from ocean floors to forest canopies. Walk among live birds, insects, and cephalopods displaying bold and surprising color patterns to see firsthand how various adaptive strategies—like camouflage and bioluminescence—allow animals to survive and thrive. See and hear what color can tell us about the health of the environments where these organisms live. Zoom in and examine butterfly wings and beetle shells with GIGAmacro imaging, and you’ll see life on an unprecedented (chromatic) scale.
New! Dwarf cuttlefish are now on exhibit in Color of Life. Can you find their eggs?
Appearances Matter
A female Gouldian finch can identify the most suitable male based on his display of brilliant colors, making for a short (and foolproof) personal ad. In the exhibit’s aviary, you’ll see why her choice may still be a challenge, given how much coloration can vary within one species.
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Color Commentary
From green leaves turning red to coral reefs losing their vibrancy, color shifts can signal larger underlying changes. Academy scientists share how they use these cues to guide their research in some of the world’s most critically endangered habitats.
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Visual Cues
Learn to speak the language of color—your life may depend on it. By observing the many ways in which species communicate through color, you'll know whether they're luring prey, warning a predator, or just looking for a mate.
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Seeing Red
The term “snake eyes” takes on a whole new meaning when you see the world—and track mice—like a green tree python. Take a peek through our infrared display to see how snakes’ built-in sensory organs allow them to actually see the body heat of their prey.
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Free Educator Guides
We've designed grade-specific materials to help you integrate this exhibit into your Academy field trip. Each guide includes key concepts, glossaries, behind-the-scenes articles, guiding questions and answers, and linkages to the Next Generation Science Standards.
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Macro Color
See the surface of moths, feathers, and shells as you've never seen them before with our GIGAmacro images.
This exhibit is generously supported by
Learn how Academy staff create an exhibit that focuses on colors in the natural world.
Gouldian finches are polymorphic, with three possible head color variations—black, yellow, or red.
Uncover the science behind the bioluminescence of some very special fungi.
New research uncovers the mechanisms by which chameleons change their colors.
Learn how and why cephalopods like octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish change colors.
Generously supported by:
