Colours of quality: structural (but not pigment) coloration informs about male quality in a polychromatic lizard

摘要: Chromatic signals result from the differential absorption of light by chemical compounds (pigment-based colours) and/or scattering integument nanostructures (structural colours). Both structural and pigment-based colours can be costly to produce, maintain display, have been shown convey information about a variety individual quality traits. Male wall lizards, Podarcis muralis, display conspicuously coloured ventral lateral patches during ritualized inter- intrasexual displays: (perceived as orange, yellow or white humans) are pigment based, while ultraviolet (UV)-blue outer scales (OVS), located along flanks, is structurally produced. We used spectrophotometric data 372 adult males examine, considering entire visual spectrum whether OVS colour variables predict male quality. Results indicate that hue UV chroma good predictors fighting ability (size-independent bite force) body condition, respectively. This suggests condition dependent function complex multicomponent in this species. In contrast, coloration apparently does not indicator. suggest may social with different content, possibly aimed at receivers.