Why is the tongue of blue-tongued skinks blue? Reflectance of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception by conspecifics and predators
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F15%3A10296760" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/15:10296760 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00114-015-1293-4" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00114-015-1293-4</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00114-015-1293-4" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00114-015-1293-4</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Why is the tongue of blue-tongued skinks blue? Reflectance of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception by conspecifics and predators
Original language description
Blue-tongued skinks of the genus Tiliqua (Scincidae) are characterized by their large blue melanin-pigmented tongues, often displayed during open-mouth threats, when the animal feels endangered. It is not clear whether this unusual coloration is a directanti-predation adaptation or it may rather serve intraspecific communication, as ultraviolet-blue color is a frequent visual signal in a number of lizard species. We used spectrophotometry and visual modeling to compare blue tongues of Tiliqua gigas with tongues and skin coloration of other lizard species, and to examine their appearance through the eyes of both the conspecifics and avian predators. Our results show that (1) the tongue coloration is probably not substantially influenced by the amount of melanin in the skin, (2) lingual and oral tissues are UV-reflective in general, with blue colored tongues having chromatic qualities similar to UV-blue skin patches of other lizard species, (3) UV-blue tongues are more conspicuous than
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>x</sub> - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)
CEP classification
EG - Zoology
OECD FORD branch
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Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach<br>I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2015
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
The Science of Nature : Die Naturwissenschaften
ISSN
0028-1042
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
102
Issue of the periodical within the volume
7-8
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
12
Pages from-to
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UT code for WoS article
000359835500005
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-84937829463