What comes in a wide variety of colours despite one particular colour being named after that of an area around the eyes of the male of one species? How is this related to a colour that is fast disappearing in the natural world?

busted123

Green eyes, which go with red hair, which if it's natural is now only the true color of 1 to 2% of people world-wide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/red_hair Jul 04 09, 8:24 PM

busted123

Oh, the color green is the same as the "fast disappearing" rainforests of the world: over 90% in South Africa, over 70% in Brazil and over 60% in other tropical lands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rainforests Jul 04 09, 8:46 PM

gmackematix

Er...no. The word "green" ultimately comes from a Germanic word for "to grow" and doesn't answer this question at all. Jul 04 09, 9:23 PM

zbeckabee

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...this is a complete shot in the dark: Teal, also called Teal blue, that color is blue and green mixed together. The color gets its name from the fact that it surrounds the eyes of the common teal, a member of the duck family. The complementary color of teal is coral pink. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teal_(color) Cape Teal Chestnut-breasted Teal Chilean Teal Cinnamon Teal Green-winged Teal Laysan Teal 2008 Pairs Ringed Teal http://www.mauricefield.net/chenoa/chenoaduck.shtml#duck4 FAR from complete...I'm probably making matters worse. Jul 04 09, 10:42 PM

Verbonica

Following that shot in the dark... coral is the complementary color of teal; and coral reefs around the world are endangered, threatened or vulnerable to destruction (although coral comes in many colors). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef#Destruction_worldwide Corals are highly sensitive to environmental changes. Scientists have predicted that over 50% of the world's coral reefs may be destroyed by the year 2030. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral#Environmental_influences Jul 05 09, 12:16 AM

zbeckabee

Verbonica -- Nice one! Jul 05 09, 12:22 AM

gmackematix

Yay, Zbeck (and credit to Verbonica) for the endangered part. Putting it all together... Teal ducks come in a variety of colours, but the colour teal, often associated with bathrooms, indeed takes its name from that around the eyes of the male of the common teal. The complementary colour is coral pink, but as the aforementioned death of reefs causes them to lose their colour, this and othet coral shades are being lost in the natural world. Jul 05 09, 7:39 PM