10 of the Most Colorful Animals in the World

5. Mandarin Duck

Photo: Flickr/Mark Harkin
The mandarin duck is a veritable hodgepodge of colors featuring blue, green, orange, white, and purple. Like the peacock, it’s dimorphic, meaning that the females look considerably different than their male counterparts. However, the male only has its bright plumage during mating season in order to attract a mate. Afterward, he molts, boasting only a bright-orange beak while the rest of his body becomes shades of brown.

4. Mandrill

Photo: Flickr/magnetismus

The mandrill looks somewhat ordinary, except for bright distinctions on its face … and behind. The males have colors of bright blue, pink, and red to their lips and nose, with similar bright colors on their bum. Those colors help male mandrills attract female mates. Female mandrills — much like female mandarin ducks — are brown and more simple in appearance. Other than being known for its bright coloring, the mandrill is also renowned for being the largest of all Old World monkeys.

3. Panther Chameleon

PantherChameleon_1000x523
Photo: Flickr/Tambako The Jaguar
The male panther chameleon spans in colors of bright red, green, and turquoise. Other colors may include, orange, pink, and yellowish white. The females have much more subdued coloring, boasting an orange and pink emphasis on a mostly tan background. The most distinctive features of this species, however, are its size — males can reach up to 20 inches long — and its tongue. Made up of muscle, bone, and sinew, the tongue of a panther chameleon can be twice as long as its body, with the specific function of catching prey.

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