Lizards exploit the changing optics of developing chromatophore cells to switch defensive colors during ontogeny.

ABSTRACT: Many animals undergo changes in functional colors during development, requiring the replacement of integument or pigment cells. A classic example of defensive color switching is found in hatchling lizards, which use conspicuous tail colors to deflect predator attacks away from vital organs. These tail colors usually fade to concealing colors during ontogeny. Here, we show that the ontogenetic blue-to-brown tail color change in Acanthodactylus beershebensis lizards results from the changing optical properties of single types of developing chromatophore cells. The blue tail colors of hatchlings are produced by incoherent scattering from premature guanine crystals in underdeveloped iridophore cells. Cryptic tail colors emerge during chromatophore maturation upon reorganization of the g

SUBMITTER: Zhang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10161005 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature