Carotenoid Composition of Colorful Body Stripes and Patches in the Painted Turtle (<i>Chrysemys picta</i>) and Red-Eared Slider (<i>Trachemys scripta</i>)

Steffen, John E.; Learn, Kyle M.; Drumheller, Jonathan S.; Boback, Scott M.; McGraw, Kevin J.

doi:10.2744/ccab-14-01-56-63.1

Cited by 24 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Although they are not known for their vivid, conspicuous body coloration, many turtles are in fact as colourful as other vertebrates [69]. However very few studies have addressed the mechanisms of turtle colour production [27,29,30]. In fact, there is more information on colour production in some fossil extinct taxa than in extant turtles [70–76].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Xanthophores have also been found sporadically in the dermis of the spiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera , the Murray river turtle ( Emydura macquarii ) and in the painted turtle ( Chrysemys picta ) [27]. Such scarcity of carotenoid/pteridine derivatives-containing cells is in contrast with chemical analyses of the yellow and red regions of the integument of the red-eared slider ( Trachemys scripta elegans ) and C. picta [30,31]. Two major classes of carotenoids have been described in the integument of these turtles: short wavelength absorbing apocarotenoids and longer wavelength-absorbing ketocarotenoids [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such scarcity of carotenoid/pteridine derivatives-containing cells is in contrast with chemical analyses of the yellow and red regions of the integument of the red-eared slider ( Trachemys scripta elegans ) and C. picta [30,31]. Two major classes of carotenoids have been described in the integument of these turtles: short wavelength absorbing apocarotenoids and longer wavelength-absorbing ketocarotenoids [30]. In addition to carotenoids, Steffen et al [30] speculated that small quantities of some pteridine derivatives could play a minor role in colour production in the integument of turtles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two major classes of carotenoids have been described in the integument of these turtles: short wavelength absorbing apocarotenoids and longer wavelength-absorbing ketocarotenoids [30]. In addition to carotenoids, Steffen et al [30] speculated that small quantities of some pteridine derivatives could play a minor role in colour production in the integument of turtles. In support of this hypothesis, Alibardi [27] observed pterinosomes with characteristic concentric lamellae in the xanthophores of turtles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This striped pattern usually consists of alternating yellow and black regions, but red regions are also found in some species. The coloration of deirocheline turtles is thought to play a role in mate choice [30,34]. Some species are sexually dichromatic, with males often displaying the brightest, most conspicuous colours (reviewed in [19]); however sexual dichromatism is limited to particular regions of the body, whereas other regions show no sexual differences [35,36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: The case of deirocheline turtles

Brejcha

Bataller

Bosáková

et al. 2019

Preprint

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21Animal body coloration is a complex trait resulting from the interplay of multiple colour-producing mechanisms. 22Increasing knowledge of the functional role of animal coloration stresses the need to study the proximate causes of 23 colour production. Here we present a description of colour and colour producing mechanisms in two non-avian 24 archelosaurs, the freshwater turtles Trachemys scripta and Pseudemys concinna. We compare reflectance spectra; 25 cellular, ultra-, and nano-structure of colour-producing elements; and carotenoid/pteridine derivatives contents in 26 the two species. In addition to xanthophores and melanocytes, we found abundant iridophores which may play a 27 role in integumental colour production. We also found abundant dermal collagen fibres that may serve as 28 thermoprotection but possibly also play role in colour production. The colour of yellow-red skin patches results from 29 an interplay between carotenoids and pteridine derivatives. The two species differ in the distribution of pigment cell 30 types along the dorsoventral head axis, as well as in the diversity of pigments involved in colour production, which 31 may be related to visual signalling. Our results indicate that archelosaurs share some colour production mechanisms 32 with amphibians and lepidosaurs, but also employ novel mechanisms based on the nano-organization of the 33 extracellular protein matrix that they share with mammals. 34 35 *Jindřich Brejcha 2 36 65 Turtles are an early-diverging clade of Archelosauria, the evolutionary lineage of tetrapods leading to 66 crocodiles and birds [22]. Although many turtles have a uniform dull colour, conspicuous striped and spotted 67 patterns are common in all major lineages of turtles (for a comprehensive collection of photographs see [23-26]).68 These conspicuous colour patterns may be present in the hard-horny skin of shells, and/or in the soft skin of the 69 head, limbs or tail. The dark areas of the skin of turtles may have a threefold origin consisting either of dermal, 70 epidermal, or both epidermal and dermal melanocytes. Colourful bright regions are thought to be the result of the 71 presence of xanthophores in the dermis [27] and their interplay with dermal melanophores [28]. Iridophores have 72 never been shown to play role in coloration of turtles [27,29]. 73Pigment-bearing xanthophores were first described in the dermis of the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus 74 sinensis) [29]. Xanthophores have also been found sporadically in the dermis of the spiny softshell turtle Apalone 75 spinifera, the Murray river turtle (Emydura macquarii) and in the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) [27]. Such scarcity 76 3 of carotenoid/pteridine derivatives-containing cells is in contrast with chemical analyses of the yellow and red 77 regions of the integument of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) and C. picta [30,31]. Two major 78 classes of carotenoids have been described in the integument of these turtles: short wavelength absorbing 79 apocarotenoids and longer wave...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: The case of deirocheline turtles

Brejcha

Bataller

Bosáková

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Honest sexual signaling in turtles: experimental evidence of a trade-off between immune response and coloration in red-eared sliders Trachemys scripta elegans

Ibáñez¹,

Polo‐Cavia²,

López³

et al. 2014

Naturwissenschaften

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Sexual signals can be evolutionarily stable if they are honest and condition dependent or costly to the signaler. One possible cost is the existence of a trade-off between maintaining the immune system and the elaboration of ornaments. This hypothesis has been experimentally tested in some groups of animals but not in others such as turtles. We experimentally challenged the immune system of female red-eared sliders Trachemys scripta elegans, with a bacterial antigen (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) without pathogenic effects to explore whether the immune activation affected visual colorful ornaments of the head. The LPS injection altered the reflectance patterns of color ornaments. In comparison to the control animals, the yellow chin stripes of injected animals exhibited (1) reduced brightness, (2) lower long wavelength (>470 nm) reflectance, and (3) lower values for carotenoid chroma. The postorbital patches of injected individuals also showed reduced very long wavelength (>570 nm) reflectance but did not change in carotenoid chroma. Thus, experimental turtles showed darker and less "yellowish" chin stripes and less "reddish" postorbital patches at the end of the experiment, whereas control turtles did not change their coloration. This is the first experimental evidence supporting the existence of a trade-off between the immune system and the expression of visual ornaments in turtles. We suggest that this trade-off may allow turtles to honestly signal individual quality via characteristics of coloration, which may have an important role in intersexual selection processes.

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The effect of growth rate and ageing on colour variation of European pond turtles

Ibáñez

Martı́n

Marzal

et al. 2017

Sci Nat

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Many chelonians have colourful dots, patches and stripes throughout their body that are made up, at least in part, of carotenoids. Therefore, turtles are very suitable models to study the evolution and functionality of carotenoid-based colouration. Recent studies suggested a close link between colouration and immune system in these taxa. However, more research is needed to understand the role of these colourful stripes and patches in turtle visual signalling. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between growth rate and colouration in European pond turtles. In particular, we wanted to answer the question of whether there is a trade-off between growth and colour expression. We also aimed to explore the effect of body size and age on colour variation. Turtles from a reintroduction-breeding program were recaptured, weighed and measured over an 8-year period to estimate their growth rates and age. We also measured with a spectrometer the reflectance of colour patches in two different body parts: shell and forelimb. We found that turtles with a faster growth rate had brighter limb stripes independently of their age. On the other hand, shell colouration was related to body size with larger turtles having brighter shell stripes and higher values of carotenoid chroma. Our results suggest that fast-growers may afford to express intense colourful limb stripes likely due to their higher intake of carotenoids that would modulate both growth and colour expression. However, shell colouration was related to body size probably due to ontogenetic differences in the diet, as juveniles are strictly carnivorous while adults are omnivorous. Alternatively, shell colouration might be involved in crypsis as the shell is visually exposed to predators.

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Carotenoid Composition of Colorful Body Stripes and Patches in the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) and Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta)

Cited by 24 publications

References 49 publications

Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: The case of deirocheline turtles

Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: The case of deirocheline turtles

Honest sexual signaling in turtles: experimental evidence of a trade-off between immune response and coloration in red-eared sliders Trachemys scripta elegans

The effect of growth rate and ageing on colour variation of European pond turtles

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