Origin of Iridescent Colors on the Indigo Snake

Monroe, E. A.; Monroe, Stanley E.

doi:10.1126/science.159.3810.97-a

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The combination of transmission and reflection by the epidermis is directly analogous to the way a sheet of glass not only transmits oblique light but also reflects some of it from its upper surface. Reflection involving some kinds of relatively fine microornamentation occasionally contributes to interference colors on the scales of snakes, for instance, in the colubrid snake, Drymarchon (Monroe and Monroe, 1967) and in uropeltid snakes (Gans and Baic, 1977), although such colors may at least sometimes be an incidental effect of selection for mechanical performance advantages (Gans and Baic, 1977).…”

Section: Factors That May Cause Evolutionary Changementioning

confidence: 98%

“…For instance, publications dealing with dorsal body scales include: Bryant et al (1967), Monroe and Monroe (1967), Ruibal (1968), Stewart and Daniel (1972, 1975, Burstein et al (1974), Cole and van Devender (1976), Sammartano (1976), Gans and Baic (1977), Gasc and Renous (1980), Groombridge (1980), Wuest (1982, 1983), Price (1982Price ( , 1983Price ( , 1989, Peterson (1984a,b), Peterson and Bezy (1985), Renous et al (1985), Bea (1986), Bowker et al (1987), McCarthy (1987), Stille (1987), Bezy and Peterson (1988), Irish et al (1988), Vaccaro et al (1988), Chiasson and Lowe (1989), Lang (1989), Price and Kelly (1989), Renous and Gasc (1989), Harvey (1993), and Harvey and Gutberlet (1995).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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History and function of scale microornamentation in lacertid lizards

Arnold

2002

Journal of Morphology

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Differences in surface structure (ober-hautchen) of body scales of lacertid lizards involve cell size, shape and surface profile, presence or absence of fine pitting, form of cell margins, and the occurrence of longitudinal ridges and pustular projections. Phylogenetic information indicates that the primitive pattern involved narrow strap-shaped cells, with low posteriorly overlapping edges and relatively smooth surfaces. Deviations from this condition produce a more sculptured surface and have developed many times, although subsequent overt reversals are uncommon. Like variations in scale shape, different patterns of dorsal body microornamentation appear to confer different and conflicting performance advantages. The primitive pattern may reduce friction during locomotion and also enhances dirt shedding, especially in ground-dwelling forms from moist habitats. However, this smooth microornamentation generates shine that may compromise cryptic coloration, especially when scales are large. Many derived features show correlation with such large scales and appear to suppress shine. They occur most frequently in forms from dry habitats or forms that climb in vegetation away from the ground, situations where dirt adhesion is less of a problem. Microornamentation differences involving other parts of the body and other squamate groups tend to corroborate this functional interpretation. Microornamentation features can develop on lineages in different orders and appear to act additively in reducing shine. In some cases different combinations may be optimal solutions in particular environments, but lineage effects, such as limited reversibility and different developmental proclivities, may also be important in their genesis. The fine pits often found on cell surfaces are unconnected with shine reduction, as they are smaller than the wavelengths of most visible light.

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Section: Factors That May Cause Evolutionary Changementioning

confidence: 98%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

History and function of scale microornamentation in lacertid lizards

Arnold

2002

Journal of Morphology

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“…Conspicuous iridescence arising from diffraction gratings is also common among burrowing snakes and lizards (Monroe & Monroe 1968;Arnold 2002). Gans & Baic (1977) asserted that diffraction gratings in burrowing snakes function in shedding mud or damp soil, but did not test this across many species nor in any experimental fashion.…”

Section: Non-visual Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gold bugs and beyond: a review of iridescence and structural colour mechanisms in beetles (Coleoptera)

Seago

Brady

Vigneron

et al. 2008

J. R. Soc. Interface.

475

498

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Members of the order Coleoptera are sometimes referred to as 'living jewels', in allusion to the strikingly diverse array of iridescence mechanisms and optical effects that have arisen in beetles. A number of novel and sophisticated reflectance mechanisms have been discovered in recent years, including three-dimensional photonic crystals and quasi-ordered coherent scattering arrays. However, the literature on beetle structural coloration is often redundant and lacks synthesis, with little interchange between the entomological and optical research communities. Here, an overview is provided for all iridescence mechanisms observed in Coleoptera. Types of iridescence are illustrated and classified into three mechanistic groups: multilayer reflectors, three-dimensional photonic crystals and diffraction gratings. Taxonomic and phylogenetic distributions are provided, along with discussion of the putative functions and evolutionary pathways by which iridescence has repeatedly arisen in beetles.

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“…For structural colour to occur a periodic structure modulated at the wavelength of visible light is required, this is unlike the colour of a pigment or dye molecule that is due to the selective absorption of visible light [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Examples of structural colour in animals are most spectacularly observed in some butterflies such as the Morpho [5,8], scarab beetles [9], some bird feathers such as a peacocks [10], snake skin [11], fish scales [12], dragonfly wings [13] and also in some plants [14]. Structural colour in minerals is exquisitely displayed by some types of opal; these exhibit the characteristic play of colour (POC) known as opalescence that has made this mineral a much sought after gemstone [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%