coloration

Introduction
Structural and biochemical bases for colour
- Structural colours (schemochromes)
  - Reflection
  - Interference
  - Scattering
- Pigments (biochromes)
  - Chemical and biochemical features
  - Nonnitrogenous pigments
    - Carotenoids
    - Quinones
      Benzoquinones
      Naphthoquinones
      Anthraquinones
      Polycyclic quinones
    - Flavonoids
      Anthoxanthins
      Anthocyanins
  - Nitrogenous pigments
    - Tetrapyrroles, porphyrins, and their derivatives
      Porphyrins
      Hemoglobins
      Chlorophylls
      Bilins
    - Indole pigments
      Melanins
      Indigoids
    - Phenoxazones and sclerotins
    - Purines and pterins
    - Flavins (lyochromes)
  - Miscellaneous pigments
    - Hemocyanins
    - Hemerythins
    - Hemovanadin
    - Actiniochrome
    - Adenochrome
Control of coloration
- Genetic control
- Physiological control
The adaptive value of biological coloration
- Optical functions: deceptive coloration
  - Camouflage
    - Background matching
    - Disruptive coloration
    - Countershading
    - The role of shape in relation to coloration
  - Mimicry
- Optical functions: advertising coloration
  - Attraction
    - Reproductive signals
    - Schooling signals
    - Interspecific signals
  - Repulsion
    - Territorial advertising
    - Warning, or aposematic, coloration
- Optical functions: combination of concealing and advertising coloration
- Optical functions: the roles of the selective agent and of illumination
  - The selective agent
  - Illumination
- Visual functions
- Physiological functions
Coloration changes
- Coloration changes in individual organisms
  - Short-term changes
  - Seasonal changes
  - Age-related changes
- Coloration changes in populations

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

How does an anole change its color?

How chameleons change color—and why

Caribbean flamingo

white-crested turacos

coloration; guinea pigs

plains zebras at a waterhole

For Students

default image

coloration summary

coloration: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	colouration • biological colouration

Photos and Videos

Caribbean flamingo

white-crested turacos

coloration; guinea pigs

plains zebras at a waterhole

male frigate bird

cock of the rock

How does an anole change its color?

How chameleons change color—and why

Observe a cuttlefish changing its colour as it swims near the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia

Know about the two optical structures of blue-rayed limpet that give the blue-rayed limpet its unique and brilliant blue stripes

The video thumbnail image shows a green leaf with a rainbow graphic arcing towards it.

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

pigmentation overo tobiano polychromatism deceptive coloration Insects That Wear Things 7 Animals That Turn White in Winter Why Are Male Animals More Colorful?Deviously Darwinian: 6 Strange Evolutionary Phenomena 9 Animals That Look Like Leaves metabolism death sex sleep photosynthesis biological development aging mimicry nutrition life span

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

greylag. Flock of Greylag geese during their winter migration at Bosque del Apache National Refugee, New Mexico. greylag goose (Anser anser)

Biology Bonanza