Melanism, body size, and sex ratio in snakes—new data on the grass snake (Natrix natrix) and synthesis
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2020 at "Die Naturwissenschaften"
DOI: 10.1007/s00114-020-01678-x
Abstract: It is postulated that melanism in ectotherms is adaptive by enhancing thermoregulation, subsequent resource acquisition, and growth. Such effects may differ between the sexes as a result of the differential costs of self-maintenance and reproduction,… read more here.
Keywords: sex ratio; sex; melanism; body size ... See more keywords
Plumage melanism is linked to male quality, female parental investment and assortative mating in an alpine songbird
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2019 at "Animal Behaviour"
DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.06.034
Abstract: Melanin is a common pigment that can indicate individual quality to potential mates and social dominance to competitors. For many avian species, plumage melanism varies within both males and females. If predictive of individual quality,… read more here.
Keywords: quality; melanism; investment; darker ... See more keywords
Industrial Melanism in the Seasnake Emydocephalus annulatus
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2017 at "Current Biology"
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.073
Abstract: Although classically associated with urban environments in invertebrates, melanism in terrestrial snakes is more often linked to occupancy of cool climates [1-3]. Thermal advantages to melanism do not apply in aquatic snakes [4], but although… read more here.
Keywords: melanism; emydocephalus annulatus; industrial melanism; melanism seasnake ... See more keywords
Relationships of a new species support multiple origin of melanism in Trichomycterus from the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2020 at "Zoologischer Anzeiger"
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2020.07.004
Abstract: Abstract The origin of melanism has been often associated with cryptic habits, driven by selection for camouflage, sometimes independently arising in closely related species. Field studies in Atlantic Forest rivers of south-eastern Brazil have indicated… read more here.
Keywords: melanism; atlantic forest; group; trichomycterus ... See more keywords
Parallel evolution of urban–rural clines in melanism in a widespread mammal
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2022 at "Scientific Reports"
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05746-2
Abstract: Urbanization is the dominant trend of global land use change. The replicated nature of environmental change associated with urbanization should drive parallel evolution, yet insight into the repeatability of evolutionary processes in urban areas has… read more here.
Keywords: parallel evolution; urban rural; rural clines; melanism ... See more keywords
Colour scales with climate in North American ratsnakes: a test of the thermal melanism hypothesis using community science images
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2022 at "Biology Letters"
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0403
Abstract: Animal colour is a complex trait shaped by multiple selection pressures that can vary across geography. The thermal melanism hypothesis predicts that darker coloration is beneficial to animals in colder regions because it allows for… read more here.
Keywords: science images; community science; melanism; thermal melanism ... See more keywords
First record of a highly melanic morph of Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabricius, 1787) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae).
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2020 at "Zootaxa"
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4816.3.10
Abstract: The term 'melanism' means the occurrence of variant(s) that is/are mostly or completely dark in pigmentation either as intraspecific polymorphisms or as fixed differences between closely related species. Melanism can refer to variation involving discrete… read more here.
Keywords: highly melanic; melanism; record highly; melanic morph ... See more keywords
Mapping black panthers: Macroecological modeling of melanism in leopards (Panthera pardus)
Sign Up to like & getrecommendations! Published in 2017 at "PLoS ONE"
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170378
Abstract: The geographic distribution and habitat association of most mammalian polymorphic phenotypes are still poorly known, hampering assessments of their adaptive significance. Even in the case of the black panther, an iconic melanistic variant of the… read more here.
Keywords: panthera pardus; melanism; mapping black; melanism leopards ... See more keywords