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Food Item Coloration Of The Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri Sciureus): An Analysis Of Color Vision Polymorphism At The Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Stefan Cooper Rosin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Though the genetic and physiological aspects of primate color vision are understood, knowledge of the history and advantage of such an adaptation is currently limited to speculation. It appears that trichromatic color vision arose as a foraging specialization, though there is reason to believe dichromacy, or red-green color blindness, provides unique advantages as well. This study examines the coloration of food items of the common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Yasuni National Park “buffer zone,” Ecuador. Saimiri is known to be polymorphic with respect to color vision, exhibiting both di- and trichromacy. With the goal of …