Which Animals Have Different Colored Blood?
Question
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Answer ( 1 )
There are a few animals that have different colored blood due to variations in their oxygen-carrying molecules. For example, certain species of marine worms called polychaetes have green-colored blood. This is because their blood contains a molecule called chlorocruorin, which uses chlorophyll to carry oxygen. Similarly, some species of spiders and crustaceans have blue blood due to the presence of a copper-based molecule called hemocyanin.
Another example is the horseshoe crab, which has blue blood. The unique color comes from its copper-based blood pigment known as hemocyanin. Unlike humans and other mammals who have iron-based hemoglobin, the horseshoe crab’s circulatory system relies on hemocyanin to transport oxygen throughout its body. This difference in pigments gives their blood a distinct blue coloration.
These examples highlight the fascinating diversity found in the animal kingdom when it comes to the color of their blood. While most animals have red-colored blood due to iron-based pigments like hemoglobin, these unique creatures demonstrate how evolution has led to different adaptations for oxygen transport within their bodies.