Thermal melanism explains macroevolutionary variation of dorsal pigmentation in Eurasian vipers
Abstract Colouration may endorse thermoregulatory and antipredatory functions in snakes. The thermal melanism hypothesis predicts that dark-coloured individuals are ecologically favoured in cool climates. However, the loss of aposematic and cryptic colourations may imply high predation for melanisti...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72871-1 |