ArticlePhilosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences2017
Animal coloration research: why it matters.
Article in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 52 citations in OpenAlex.
- Forelimb stripe coloration signals age, but not physiological health, in painted turtles.Behavioral ecology and sociobiology · 2026Article
- Citizen science data reveals widespread sexual dichromatism in the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra).BMC ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Citizen science data reveals widespread sexual dichromatism in the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra).BMC ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Hidden white and black feather layers enhance plumage coloration in tanagers and other songbirds.Science advances · 2025Article
- Evolutionary genomics of camouflage innovation in the orchid mantis.Nature communications · 2023Article
- Camouflage in lichen moths: Field predation experiments and avian vision modelling demonstrate the importance of wing pattern elements and background for survival.The Journal of animal ecology · 2022Article
- Comparative transcriptomics of albino and warningly-coloured caterpillars.Ecology and evolution · 2021Article
- Immune function differences between two color morphs of the red palm weevilEcology and evolution · 2021Article
- A comparison of animal color measurements using a commercially available digital color sensor and photograph analysis.Current zoology · 2020Article
- Benefits of insect colours: a review from social insect studies.Oecologia · 2020Review
- Being red, blue and green: the genetic basis of coloration differences in the strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio).BMC genomics · 2020Article
- I see your false colours: how artificial stimuli appear to different animal viewers.Interface focus · 2019Article
- The microstructure of white feathers predicts their visible and near-infrared reflectance properties.PloS one · 2018Article
- Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
While basic research on animal coloration is the theme of this special edition, here we highlight its applied significance for industry, innovation and society. Both the nanophotonic structures producing stunning optical effects and the colour perception mechanisms in animals are extremely diverse, having been honed over millions of years of evolution for many different purposes. Consequently, there is a wealth of opportunity for biomimetic and bioinspired applications of animal coloration research, spanning colour production, perception and function. Fundamental research on the production and perception of animal coloration is contributing to breakthroughs in the design of new materials (cosmetics, textiles, paints, optical coatings, security labels) and new technologies (cameras, sensors, optical devices, robots, biomedical implants). In addition, discoveries about the function of animal colour are influencing sport, fashion, the military and conservation. Understanding and applying knowledge of animal coloration is now a multidisciplinary exercise. Our goal here is to provide a catalyst for new ideas and collaborations between biologists studying animal coloration and researchers in other disciplines.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.