Presentation Details
| Eye of the beholder: evolution of snake coloration through multiple viewer color spaces Elena Gasiorowski, Alice Welch, David Kikuchi. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA |
Abstract
Snakes (order Squamata) are diverse in color and pattern, with some species displaying multiple color and pattern combinations across their bodies. Snakes can be predators or prey for birds (class Aves), making the avian visual system a potential driver of selection on snake color. We examined this relationship by modeling how UV-sensitive and V-sensitive avians, as well as control organisms, perceive snake coloration. Most snake museum specimens lose pigment in their scales over time, making it difficult to quantify snake coloration. We measured the reflectance of frozen snake specimens at the US Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab, which is a rare source of accurate coloration information. The species sampled were from all continents except Antarctica, providing a global representation of all snake taxa. We calculated color and luminance metrics for snakes as different visual systems perceive them. We also performed these calculations for soil and foliage to compare the colors of snakes to potential substrates they may be selected to match. This study opens future directions into habitat use by snakes, predator-prey dynamics, and the evolution of snake coloration.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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