ArticleNature communications2020
Exposure to UV radiance predicts repeated evolution of concealed black skin in birds.
Article in Nature communications, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed.
- Review
- High melanosome diversity exhibits weak correlation with color and environmental variables in the early evolution of therian mammals.Science advances · 2025Article
- Hidden white and black feather layers enhance plumage coloration in tanagers and other songbirds.Science advances · 2025Article
- Feather macrostructure is marginally correlated with temperature range but not urbanization across California.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Gloger's Rule or Historical Conjecture? Tests in Mammals.Ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Viewing conditions predict evolutionary diversity in avian plumage colour.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2025Article
- Ecological, genetic and geographical divergence explain differences in colouration among sunbird species (Nectariniidae).Ecology and evolution · 2024Article
- Melanin-based color variation in response to changing climates in snakes.Ecology and evolution · 2024Article
- Preliminary evidence that eye appearance in parrots (Psittaciformes) co-varies with latitude and altitude.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Molecular genetic foundation of a sex-linked tailless trait in Hongshan chicken by whole genome data analysis.Poultry science · 2024Article
- Early automated detection system for skin cancer diagnosis using artificial intelligent techniques.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Nanoscale millefeuilles produce iridescent bill ornaments in birds.PNAS nexus · 2024Article
- Foot darkening with age inPeerJ · 2024Article
- Bare parts in the Galliformes: the evolution of a multifunctional structure.Royal Society open science · 2024Article
- The global importance and interplay of colour-based protective and thermoregulatory functions in frogs.Nature communications · 2023Article
- Back in black: melanin-rich skin colour associated with increased net diversification rates in birds.Biology letters · 2023Article
- Article
- Arctic introgression and chromatin regulation facilitated rapid Qinghai-Tibet Plateau colonization by an avian predator.Nature communications · 2022Article
- Deep learning image segmentation reveals patterns of UV reflectance evolution in passerine birds.Nature communications · 2022Article
- Urohidrosis as an overlooked cooling mechanism in long-legged birds.Scientific reports · 2021Article
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5 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Plumage is among the most well-studied components of integumentary colouration. However, plumage conceals most skin in birds, and as a result the presence, evolution and function of skin colour remains unexplored. Here we show, using a database of 2259 species encompassing >99% of bird genera, that melanin-rich, black skin is found in a small but sizeable percentage (~5%) of birds, and that it evolved over 100 times. The spatial distribution of black skin follows Gloger's rule, which states that pigmentation of endothermic animals increases towards the equator. Furthermore, most black-skinned birds inhabit high irradiation regions, and tend to be bald and/or have white feathers. Thus, taken together, our results suggest that melanin-rich, black skin helps to protect birds against ultraviolet irradiation. More generally, our results illustrate that feathered skin colour varies taxonomically, ontogenetically and temporally, providing an additional dimension for avian colour research.
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