Cummings (2004, 2007), studying the marine fish, surfperch, found that the visual pigments for deepwater and for shallow water surfperch differed in a way that matched the visual characteristics of their respective prey, and that those differences were also related to species typical differences in color patterns of males.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Deepwater surfperch have visual pigments adapted to their environment, which is typically less colorful and more about variations in brightness due to limited light penetration. This adaptation would logically make them better at detecting brightness differences rather than color differences. The statement about males differing more in brightness than color aligns with this environmental adaptation, as color differences would be less noticeable in deepwater conditions.

Cummings (2004, 2007), Studying the Marine Fish, Surfperch, Found That