Besides serving as a warning signal, what ecological role does the brilliant yellow hue fulfill?
Answer
Camouflage among similarly colored sponges and algae
The intense, luminous yellow coloration characteristic of *Zebrasoma flavescens* serves a dual purpose vital to its survival on the reef. While its brightness certainly functions as an aposematic signal—a warning to potential predators about its formidable scalpel defense—it also provides effective camouflage. This bright hue allows the fish to blend seamlessly into its feeding grounds, which often consist of similarly colored sponges and various species of yellow or golden algae upon which it grazes. This blending makes it less conspicuous to both predators and prey while foraging.
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