Why do mantis shrimps and birds (including predatory birds) have the ability to see so many colors? What purpose does it serve?

Question

Based on info I got by searching this sub, color vision exists to help forage for ripe fruit, while less cones/more rods help hunt/track movement etc – so it seems counter-intuitive for these predators to have such vast color vision.

Thank you

In: 1

Answer 1

Stop thinking of it as “purpose”, and start thinking of it as “advantage”. What advantage does this particular trait confer? Because these animals didn’t have a meeting and decide they needed this trait. Instead, a mutation happened that conferred this trait which gave the individuals that possessed it an advantage over those that didn’t. Over time, it became widespread because of the advantage it gave.