Science, Tech, Math › Science Animals With Blue or Yellow Blood Instead of Red Why blood isn't always red Print Mint Images/Frans Lanting/Getty Images Science Chemistry Biochemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 30, 2018 One fun Halloween chemistry project is making edible fake blood recipes. One of these recipes can be used to make blood in any color you like. Why colored blood? Blood comes in different colors, depending on species. Read More Is Deoxygenated Human Blood Blue? By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. While humans and many other species have red blood, due to the iron in their hemoglobin, other animals have different colored blood. Spiders (as well as horseshoe crabs and certain other arthropods) have blue blood due to the presence of copper-based hemocyanin in their blood. Some animals, such as the sea cucumbers, even have yellow blood. What could make blood yellow? The yellow coloration is due to a high concentration of the yellow vanadium-based pigment, vanabin. Unlike hemoglobin and hemocyanin, vanabin does not seem to be involved in oxygen transport. In addition to vanabin, sea cucumbers have enough hemocyanin in their blood to sustain their oxygen needs. Actually, the role of vanabin remains a bit of a mystery. Perhaps it is part of a defense mechanism to make the sea cucumbers unappealing or toxic to parasites and predators. However, sea cucumber is used for cooking in many cultures, where it is prized for its slippery texture and possible health benefits. Vanadium is a controversial dietary supplement, potentially affecting insulin sensitivity and athletic performance. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Animals With Blue or Yellow Blood Instead of Red." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/animals-with-blue-or-yellow-blood-3975999. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2021, February 16). Animals With Blue or Yellow Blood Instead of Red. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/animals-with-blue-or-yellow-blood-3975999 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Animals With Blue or Yellow Blood Instead of Red." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/animals-with-blue-or-yellow-blood-3975999 (accessed April 19, 2024). copy citation