| Proximate bases of silver color in anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) feathers. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21755527 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Colors of living organisms are produced by selective light absorption from pigments and/or by light scattering from highly ordered nanostructures (i.e., structural color). While the physical bases of metallic colors of arthropods and fish are fairly well-known, those of birds are not. Here we examine structurally based silver color and its production in feathers of the waterbird species Anhinga. This achromatic color is distinguished from grey by high specular reflectance, from white by low diffuse reflectance, and from both by high gloss. Light and electron microscopy revealed three modifications of feathers likely leading to silver color. First, proximal barbules were highly elongated and contained glossy black color at their base and white color at their pennulum. Second, this glossy black portion contained a single outer layer of keratin weakly bounded by melanosomes. Finally, the white portion contained a disordered amorphous matrix of keratin and air. Optical analyzes suggest that these structures produce, respectively, glossy black color through thin-film interference and white color through incoherent light scattering. Silver color likely results from the combined reflectance of these adjacent structures. This represents a distinct mechanism for attaining silver colors that may have been partially derived through selection for display, thermoregulation or decreased hydrophobicity. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
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Authors:
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Matthew D Shawkey; Rafael Maia; Liliana D'Alba |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-7-13 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of morphology Volume: - ISSN: 1097-4687 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Jul |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-7-14 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0406125 Medline TA: J Morphol Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
Affiliation:
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Integrated Bioscience Program, Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325. shawkey@uakron.edu. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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