Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii) are found throughout tropical parts of the eastern Pacific. These seabirds are instantly recognizable thanks to the color of their feet, which males show off during elaborate courtship dances. But why are they blue? The color is a byproduct of carotenoid pigments from the birds’ diet of fresh fish. Research suggests that healthier, more well-fed Boobies have even bluer feet, which helps them attract mates.
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“Eadweard Muybridge’s phenakistoscope [1893]
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