Sharks think you look like a snack in a 'yum yum' yellow bikini, expert warns
Does your itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow-polka-dot-bikini make you look like a snack? Sharks think so too, apparently!
According to studies done by marine biologists, sharks may see in monochrome but have a preference for humans donning certain colours in the water. “It’s the contrast that they can pick up on,” says marine biologist Gavin Naylor, who runs the International Shark Attack Files (ISAF) at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
On the list of dangerous colours is yellow, and the attraction has been so well-noted in research that scientists have dubbed it 'yum yum yellow.' Juxtaposing brighter colours in the ocean is like handing out a calling card to every predator hiding in the murky water, especially sharks, who often attack before they think.
Sharks love bright colours as they stand out from the blue and green of the ocean (Getty Images/EyeEm)Current research from Naylor is based on previous studies from Australian physiologist Nathan Hart, who examined the retinal profile of sharks using a fisheye lens to see what they do or do not perceive in the ocean. These theories of sharks preferring bright colours like yellow and orange go back decades, as one case in the 1970s was heavily documented by the Navy.
Decades ago, an air/sea disaster landed a bunch of pilots in shark-infested waters - and scientists noticed something bizarre. The sharks attacked and injured the airmen wearing yellow and orange jumpsuits while leaving those in green and khaki-coloured ones entirely alone.
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Sharks already have a superior sense of smell and can sense a drop of blood in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. And just because they see in black-and-white, doesn't mean they don't see well. Sharks do have good eyesight, according to another study by Hart. Sharks and other bottom-dwelling species have "extreme contrast compared to vertebrate animals," writes the New York Post.
Sharks have a great sense of smell, but scientists have confirmed that there's something about their eyesight that makes them excellent predetors (Getty Images/iStockphoto)A similar case took place at the end of World War II when the USS Indianapolis found themselves sinking into the depths of the Pacific ocean while on a mission in what's known as the worst shark attack in history. When the ship sank, 900 of the men ended up in the water - swarmed by sharks for days. When rescuers got there, only 300 were left.
While scientists figure that the splashing and bleeding injuries originally drew the sharks to the site, new speculation says the bright yellow vests added to their onslaught.
“If sharks are excited and hungry, they make rash decisions and bite what — in the heat of the moment — they consider a potential prey item,” said Naylor. He added that “predators have to think quickly”, and any hesitation “can leave them hungry.”
While yellow, orange, white, and patterns are extremely helpful for rescue efforts, wearing them can pose a whole other issue with underwater predators.
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