Friday, July 10, 2015

Colour-Vision Deficiency in old-world primates: A case study

The monkey is clearly a dichromat, unable to distinguish reds and greens, which is why his painting is dominated by the tonality of blues and yellows which stand out from grey for him.

One would take this for granted if he were a New World monkey of the Platyrrhine clade, where dichromacy is the norm (apart from Howler monkeys who evolved trichromacy independently, and heterozygous females in many New World genera). But in fact he is a Catarrhine, a Macaque of one species or another, where trichromacy is the norm.

For some reason all the research on colour-blindess in old-world primates has concentrated on humans.

14 comments:

H. Rumbold, Master Barber said...

One can distinguish the monkeys as flat noses or runny noses.

ckc (not kc) said...

...a dichromat and a diplomat walk into a laundromat...

rhwombat said...

Dichromatic allegory? What, then, of the wheel lock pistol, the ornate pipe and the Skunk hat - not to mention the self image as a macaque?Analysts - you may commence writing!

ckc (not kc) said...

...a dichromat and a diplomat walk into a laundromat...
[something..something]
"It's all shades of grey to me!"
[gales of uproarious laughter]

rhwombat said...

...a dichromat and a diplomat walk into a laundromat...
diplomat: "Who put pink socks in with my white shirts?"
dichromat: "It's all shades of gay to me!"
[not a sausage]

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

In any case, the monkey is clearly over-qualified for the jerbs of Prime Mustelid or Pretzeldent.
~

Smut Clyde said...

Ha.
I forgot to bring the camera-to-USB cable, so you are spared the photographs of Regrettable Japanese Food Decisions. Also the Beer Slushie, which is a very bad idea indeed, go home Japan, take the rest of the day off.

JP said...

I forgot to bring the camera-to-USB cable, so you are spared the photographs of Regrettable Japanese Food Decisions.

Anything that was still moving?

Smut Clyde said...

I am conservative in my tastes and focussed on Okonomiyaki.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

There's been no focus on color perception in monkeys because they do well on their driving tests.

Also, can't go wrong with okonomiyaki.

Smut Clyde said...

But without the tests there is nothing to keep this monkey from a career in aviation!

H. Rumbold, Master Barber said...

Monkeys fly in Oz.

rhwombat said...

HRMB: That's no monkey - That's the Honourable Brunnhilda "Get-to-the Choppah!" Bishop, Madam Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth (You're common, so it's my wealth) of Orstralya.

fish said...

The reason those monkeys howl is because they can see Crate and Barrel have chosen Fuchsia as this year's color. The squirrel monkeys are blissfully unaware.