Yautja: What colours can they see?
Since the first instalment in the Predator franchise, Predator 1987, Yautja have been shown primarily seeing in the infrared light spectrum, both with and without their biomask. Using their biomask, or cybernetic implants like The Assassin Predator from The Predator (2018), allows them to refine their natural vision for more effective hunting. It can even allow to them to do detailed x-rays, ultrasounds, see in ultraviolet and a number of other spectrums with the additions of tracking and translation features.
However there are inconsistencies when it comes to their natural and preferred visions being infrared. First of all being their use of windows is a rather glaring counter to a naturally infrared seeing being. Only visible light spectrums can see through glass while infrared can only see the heat of reflections. Yautja ships and technology often incorporate glass as windows, what’s the point of windows you can’t see through?
Secondly, we’ve seen that Predators have a concept of colour when it comes to members who wear brightly coloured and visually distinct attire and armour. For example Big Red, a comic predator who faced Batman, who wears brightly coloured red armour along side a bright red biomask. While colours do absorb heat differently it isn’t to the point that you’d be able to properly distinguish them when seeing exclusively in thermal. So how does a Yautja know what colours they wear when it comes to fashion choices?
This last part is from the novels but on many occasions Yautja have been described seeing colours that only the visual light spectrum can see, one example being from Predator: Eyes of the Demon - The Distance In Their Eyes in which the hunter Tel is described as seeing iridescent colours.
“No matter if he used glaive or the scythe or the scimitar, no matter the iridescent blood of the whole village was pooling at his prey’s feet, no matter the stench of ruptured bodies permeating the air, this species never ran away from his blades, but just stood there waiting their turn, as if he wasn’t killing them, but delivering them from their struggles.” - Predator: Eyes of the Demon - The Distance In Their Eyes - Page 37.
My personal opinion/theory is that Yautja see in the visual light spectrum, one very similar to our own. I’ve seen this be spoken about and debated before, so I’m curious as to what your guy’s opinion are. Let me know in the comments and reposts about your opinions, thoughts and theories.