Melanism evolution in the cat family is influenced by intraspecific communication under low visibility.

ABSTRACT: Melanism in the cat family has been associated with functions including camouflage, thermoregulation and parasite resistance. Here we investigate a new hypothesis proposing that the evolution of melanism in cats has additionally been influenced by communication functions of body markings. To evaluate this hypothesis, we assembled a species-level data set of morphological (body marks: white marks on the backs of ears) and ecological (circadian activity: arrhythmic/nocturnal, and environmental preference: open/closed) characteristics that could be associated with communication via body markings, and combined these data with a dated molecular phylogeny. Next, we tested the association between melanism and communication, first by relating species' body marks with their ecological conditions, u

SUBMITTER: Graipel ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6919575 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature