Color vision in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).
Three California sea lions were trained to discriminate between a colored stimulus and two shades of gray in a 3-fold simultaneous choice situation. The colors blue, green and red were tested against shades of gray varying from low to high relative brightness. All animals distinguished blue from gray; two animals also distinguished green from gray; but none discriminated between red and gray. Our data suggest that California sea lions have dichromatic color vision. Their ability to discriminate colors in the blue-green part of the spectrum could be a physiological adaptation to their aquatic coastal habitat.
Griebel
U
U
Department of Zoology, University of Vienna, Wien.
Schmid
A
A
D000818:Animals; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000502:physiology*