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Why do many animals have white underbellies? Part 2

Our readers continue to grapple with this question, taking into account the energy cost of producing dark pigment as well as the need for camouflage

7 May 2025

P2H56B Weasel standing upright, Mustela nivalis, Germany

Konrad Wothe/Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy

Last Word is Âé¶¹´«Ã½â€™s long-running series in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions, ranging from the minutiae of everyday life to absurd astronomical hypotheticals. To answer a question or ask a new one, email lastword@newscientist.com

Why do many animals, such as mammals and birds, have white underbellies? (continued)

Anne Barnfield
London, Ontario, Canada

That many animals and birds have white undersides and coloured backs is probably for the same reason that fish are often paler underneath than on top – to make themselves less visible to predators or prey. Imagine a hawk flying…

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