What skin colours would highly adaptable, hunter humanoids naturally evolve?
In the new setting I'm making, I found an opportunity to make a species of humanoids that I simply couldn't resist. So I got to work, making the tribal herdsmen and hunters of the predominantly carnivorous Luugitsu. Though I've come to an impasse.
They are a species with a rare trait--which I call polythermy--that causes them to be able to change whether they are endothermic or ectothermic based on changing ambient temperatures, and are highly effective at comfortably surviving under a wider range of natural temperatures. Whether this will affect the answer or not I have no idea. Hell, it could cause them to have changing skin colours like Space Marines from Warhammer 40k. But they're also very skilled hunters and, when at war, guerrilla warriors, which I'm certain will most definitely affect their skin colour, or may possibly add patterns of contrasting colours to their skin. But with these in mind, what would be the most likely skin colour--and possibly coloured patterns--that they would select for?
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1 answer
Consider camouflage colors, for desert, forest, water, city, or whatever environment they do most of their hunting in. Splotches of the most common colors found in such environments. Although splotches are common in natural settings, urban camo may involve straight lines and shadow; due to straight lines being most prevalent in man-made structures.
Perhaps like cuttlefish, (or google cuttlefish for many other videos) they could change color dynamically on the fly, to match any background. That is from real-life; and although cuttlefish use it to hide from predators, it would be equally useful in attack or subterfuge for soldiers.
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