On land and in the sea and sky you can find animals that display a dazzling array of rainbow colours. Bright fur, feathers, skin and scales serve to attract mates, scare off predators or blend into tropical habitats.
However, there is a shade that's not seen as much as you might think – and that's purple.
Violet, to be precise, is the rarest colour in nature. It is the highest-energy visible light and, as mammals can’t make violet pigments, you'll only see it in birds, insects and some marine animals.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most vivid of them…
9 rare and beautiful purple animals
Purple sea star
The purple sea star (Pisaster ochraceus), found in the Pacific, has five thick arms measuring from 10cm to 25 cm around a central body. Most in the species are purple, but others are coloured orange, yellow, red or brown.
Purple honeycreeper
While the female purple honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus) is actually bright green – to keep camouflaged in the Amazon – the male is a vivid violet-blue, a showy hue to attract a mate. They are small, sprightly birds in the tanager family found in South America.
Purple emperor
The male purple emperor butterfly (Apatura iris) has an unmistakable glossy violet sheen that catches the light as it glides through summer woodlands, usually high in the treetops. Its rare purple iridescence contrasts with the larger brown female.
Violet ground beetle
The violet ground beetle is deep black with a striking metallic-purple sheen, most noticeable along the edges of its flattened fused wing cases. Two nearly identical species exist, Carabus violaceus and Carabus problematicus.
Violet-backed starling
Violet sea slug
The purple sea slug (Hypselodoris bullockii) is a shell-less nudibranch, relying on bright warning colours for protection against predators. All nudibranchs are boldly decorated, but they can vary in colour, from soft yellow to intense violet.
Imperial Amazon (parrot)
This striking parrot, Amazona imperialis, is the Caribbean island Dominica's national bird and is found on its flag and coat of arms. The plumage on the underside of its body is a deep purple hue, which contrasts with its bright green wings.
Violet carpenter bee
The violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) is a rare and exotic-looking bee that can grow up to 3cm. It has a striking metallic purple sheen. It nests in rotting wood, emerging in late summer.
Violet sea snail
The rare (Janthina janthina) is a weird and wonderful creature that almost looks alien. The shell has a blue-violet sheen and the snail makes a bubble raft to stay afloat by trapping air in a raft of mucus it secretes.
Top image: male purple honeycreeper
