Morphological color changes in fishes

Morphological skin colour changes in teleosts

“…Based mainly on work with Japanese killifish, it became clear in the early 20th century that long‐term adaptation to a black or white background induced, following melanosome migration, variations in melanophore size, density (multiplication or degeneration) and skin melanin content (Odiorne 1933, 1948). Confirmed more recently (Sugimoto 1993), it is now recognized that the major cue for background adaptation or camouflage is in fact ‘the ratio of the intensities of light from above and from below “albedo”’ (Sugimoto 2002).…”

Studies on the Growth of Integumentary Pigment in the Lower Vertebrates

“…Melanophore " a " serves as a point of reference and orientation in (2) that the physiological condition (nervous and hormonal factors) of the fish must be such that the internal environment of the normally pigmented cells favors dispersion r> of the melanin granules (physiological darkening). Odiorne (1937) concluded that this condition also favored the slower morphological darkening in Fiindiilus. Similar findings have been reported in the lower vertebrates by Vilter (1931), Sumner and Wells (1933).…”

The Chromatophore System in the Catfish Ameiurus

“…Another feature in the measurement of melanophores should be mentioned. Catfishes of the lengths used in these studies, about 15 cm., are continually losing melanophores and forming new ones (Odiorne, 1937).…”

“…When both eyes are removed from a normal, pale catfish and it is allowed to remain in the light, it soon assumes a coal-black tint irrespective of its background (Table I, 9, 10). Such a fish will apparently retain this maximum dark hue for an indefinite period (Van Heusen, 1917;Bray, 1918;Pearson, 1930;Parker, 1934;Abramowitz, 1936;Odiorne, 1937;Wykes, 1938;Osborn, 1938&). If a coal-black fish, rendered so by having been blinded, is transferred to darkness, it will cease to be coal-black, but will maintain a very dark tint (Table I, 12).…”