tetrachromats see more colors than trichromats

Pythagorean

Apparently, women can have a fourth cone that allows them to see a greater diversity of colors...?

Living among us are people with four cones, who might experience a range of colors invisible to the rest. It’s possible these so-called tetrachromats see a hundred million colors, with each familiar hue fracturing into a hundred more subtle shades for which there are no names, no paint swatches. And because perceiving color is a personal experience, they would have no way of knowing they see far beyond what we consider the limits of human vision.

non-peer-reviewed article:

http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jul...tart:int=0&-C=

apeiron

...with each familiar hue fracturing into a hundred more subtle shades...

This bit probably isn't right. All the extra hues would be expected to be crammed into a narrow range because the doubled-up pigment varients are so close to each other. So it would be like seeing many more hues of yellowy-orange rather than extra hues across the whole colour spectrum.

At least one of the women in the earlier tests about 10 years ago, who was keen on tapestry, complained she could never find the right shades of orange yarn because manufacturers left great gaps in this part of the spectrum.

lisab

This may help to explain why so many of my xy friends can't tell maize from sunglow.

zoobyshoe

This is patently unfair and sexist! I want 4 cones!!!!

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lisab Mentor	This may help to explain why so many of my xy friends can't tell maize from sunglow.

zoobyshoe	tetrachromats see more colors than trichromats This is patently unfair and sexist! I want 4 cones!!!!