Venomous snakes may use bold colours to warn predators of danger

The research examined more than 450 snake species from around the world. Rather than looking at colour in isolation, researchers considered how snakes appeared against the backgrounds of their natural habitats. In the wild, survival often depends on staying out of sight. But for some snakes, the opposite may be true. A flash of red, a sweep of yellow or a sharply contrasting pattern can make an animal easier to spot and that visibility may be exactly the point. New research from the University of Galway suggests that venomous snakes are more likely than their non-venomous counterparts to wear colours that stand out against the environments they inhabit.When being seen can be saferAs per the release published by Eurek Alert, colour serves many purposes in the animal kingdom. It can help creatures disappear into their surroundings, attract mates or confuse predators. It can also send a very different message: stay away. This form of visual signalling, known as warning colouration, is familiar across nature. Wasps, poison dart frogs and coral snakes, for instance, use conspicuous colours and patterns to advertise their potential danger. The new study explores whether a similar relatio...