574
(゜O゜; (mander.xyz)
submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
50 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

Modern fish are often dark on top and light underneath to fool prey/predators but also often colorful. Why do they assume one evolutionary step over the other? That beautiful blimpie belly calls out for decoration!

[-] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Functional changes in coloration are much "easier" (read: more likely) to develop through random mutation than functional changes to complex mechanical structures like bone structure or musculature. Given their predecessors were already under selective pressure by predation for millions of years prior, it's reasonable to assume they'd developed countershading (light bottom, dark top). Plus current agnathans are usually pretty dull.

Edit: oh geez, I misunderstood your message. It totally could have been a rainbow party blimp. That mostly depends on what their habitat was like.

[-] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

Thanks for editing not deleting because TIL!

[-] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago

Of course! I'm a biologist, I try to use my powers for good.

this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2025
574 points (98.6% liked)

Science Memes

15134 readers
2109 users here now

Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.

Rules

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.

This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.

Research Committee

Other Mander Communities

Science and Research

Biology and Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]