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Geographic Variation In The Presence Of Polymorphisms In Painted Dragons, Dallys Baker

Science, Medicine & Health - Honours Theses

Response to colour stimuli within the animal kingdom is responsible for the evolution of many different visual ornaments across a range of species. Within many species males and females utilise colourful patterns and plumages to attract the attention of a mate, warn predators of toxicity and signal body condition and genetic prowess. However, the creation and maintenance of pigments by animals is not a simple task with a variety of types of pigment-producing cells such as melanophores, iridophores and xanthophores, capable of producing a wide range of pigments and iridescent shines. How colour is perceived by surrounding individuals also affects …