Sketch-Book Extract 01.

COLOUR, plays an important role in the appreciation of our immediate and general environment and without it we would be lost, find our-selves devoid of the stimulation to our visual senses.

So how does a human eye perceive colour? 

First, a brief overview of how the human eyes work. In order for us to see, light rays must be bent, or "refracted," so that they can reach the retina. Once the light reaches the retina, it's picked up by millions of "photoreceptors," or light-sensitive cells, called cones and rods. These cones and rods convert the light waves into information your brain can process, like colour, shape, and motion.(Levine,2017, Para.2).

Basically, rods interpret light, and cones interpret colours. Animals that are truly colour-blind completely lack cones, and animals that can only see during the day completely lack rods—but these extremes are uncommon, and most animals have a combination of cones and rods.(Levine,2017, Para.3).

A schematic representation of how the human eye interprets colour through light waves.

Why can animals see more colours than humans? we tend to think that we can see all the colours there are to be seen. But actually, there are other animals that have more cones and see far more colours than we do. .Bees and Butterflies for example have four colour receptors cones.

The following 5(five) things you didn't know about how animals see colour. 

1. cats and dogs don't see as many colours but have a wider field of vision and see better at night.

2). Some insects can see in ultra-violet light e.g. Bees and Butterflies.

3). Some snakes use thermal sensing to 'see'

4). Some animals unlike humans can see colours at night e.g. Gecko and Butterflies.

5). The mantis shrimp sees more colour than any other animal.

Image of a Mantis shrimp.

Below are various colours and their respective names for ease in identification.

 
  

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