Ernest H. Williams, Jr.

William R. Kenan Professor of Biology Emeritus

The Nature HandbookThe Nature Handbook

Chapter 4, Color & Pattern

References

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Photo Information

Fig. 4.1. Some of the pigmented colors seen in nature:

  1. lupine, likely Lupinus argenteus; Beartooth Mtns, WY; 1979 ; EHW
  2. Canada warbler, Wilsonia canadensis; Roger Rageot
  3. Milbert’s tortoiseshell butterfly, Nymphalis milberti; Kananaskis region, AB; 21 Jul 2003; EHW
  4. painted turtle, Chrysemys picta; Utica Marsh, Oneida Co., NY; 30 Apr 2003; EHW

Fig. 4.2. Albinos:

  1. white house or lab mouse, Mus musculus; Clinton, NY; 9 Jul 2003; EHW
  2. northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens; Allen Blake Sheldon
  3. American robin, Turdus migratorius; S.J. Lang/VIREO

Fig. 4.3. Iridescence:

  1. shell of abalone, Haliotis sp.; collection date and location unknown; EHW
  2. Karner blue butterfly, Plebejus melissa samuelis; Monroe Co., WI; Allen Blake Sheldon
  3. bark-gnawing beetle, Temnochila virescens; David Liebman

Fig. 4.4. female glowworm beetle, Phengodes plumose; David Liebman

Fig. 4.5. Examples of cryptic coloration:

  1. tulip-tree beauty moth, Epimecis hortaria; John Himmelman
  2. pika, Ochotona princeps; Beartooth Mtns, WY; 2 Jul 1991; EHW

Fig. 4.6. Light and dark patterns:

  1. desert cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus auduboni; Merced wetlands, CA; Dennis Sheridan
  2. sulphur butterflies, (top to bottom); EHW:
    darker alpine species (Colias meadii); Beartooth Mtns, WY; _______
    lighter low elevation species (Colias philodice); ___________
    darker northern species (Colias nastes); Kananaskis region, AB; ______
  3. melanistic zooplankton (mostly Daphnia middendorffiana and Diaptomus shoshone); Beartooth Mtns, WY; 6 Aug 2001; EHW

Fig. 4.7. Examples of countershading:

  1. yellow perch, Perca flavescens; David Liebman
  2. sanderling, Calidris alba; A. Morris/VIREO

Fig. 4.8. Spots and stripes

  1. whitetail deer fawn, Odocoileus virginianus; Roger Rageot
  2. raccoon, Procyon lotor; David Liebman

Fig, 4.9. Disruptive patterning:

  1. northern copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix; Roger Rageot
  2. white admiral butterfly, Limenitis arthemis arthemis; Powley Rd, Hamilton Co., NY; 7 Jul 2003; EHW

Fig. 4.10. Flash coloration:

  1. band-winged grasshopper; Cody, WY; 13 Aug 2003; EHW
  2. oldwife underwing moth, Catocalapalaeogama; John Himmelman

Fig. 4.11. Eyespots:

  1. male Io moth, Automeris io; Leroy Simon
  2. foureye butterfly fish, Chaetodon capistratus; Richard Nickson

Fig. 4.12. False heads:

  1. banded hairstreak, Satyrium calanus; John Himmelman
  2. caterpillar of spicebush swallowtail, Papilio troilus; David Liebman

Fig. 4.13. Warning coloration:

  1. milkweed bugs, Oncopeltus fasciatus; David Liebman
  2. striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis;Len Rue, Jr.
  3. saddleback caterpillar, Acharia stimulea; David Liebman

Fig. 4.14. Mimicry:

  1. America hover fly, Metasyrphus americanus; Allen Blake Sheldon
  2. pipevine swallowtail butterfly, Battus philenor; Leroy Simon
  3. female Eastern tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus; David Liebman
  4. red-spotted purple, Limenitis arthemis astyanax; Allen Blake Sheldon
  5. female black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes; David Liebman
  6. spicebush swallowtail, Papilio troilus; Leroy Simon

Fig. 4.15. Disguise:

  1. greater angle-wing katydid, Microcentrum rhombifolium; John Himmelman
  2. thorn bugs; Roger Rageot

Fig. 4.16. Appearances resembling bird-droppings:

  1. caterpillar of giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes; David Liebman
  2. white-ribboned carpet moth, Mesoleuca ruficillata; John Himmelman

Fig. 4.17. Possible cases of aggressive mimicry:

  1. zone-tailed hawk, Buteo albonotatus; Santa Barbara, CA; Dec 1996; Hugh Smith
  2. robber fly, Laphria maquarti; Edward Ross

Fig. 4.18. Seasonal forms:

  1. darker spring (top); _________ lighter summer (lower) forms of the mustard white, Pieris napi; _______; EHW
  2.  lighter summer (top)
  3. darker spring (lower) forms of pearl crescent butterflies, Phyciodes tharos; _______; EHW

Fig. 4.19. Winter white coloration:

  1. snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus; Len Rue, Jr.
  2. long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata; Leonard Lee Rue III

Fig. 4.20. Banded hair:

  1. Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis; Clinton, NY; 25 Oct 2002; EHW
  2. coat of domestic cat, Felis catus; Clinton, NY; 8 Sep 2002; EHW
  3. coat of yellow-bellied marmots, Marmota flaviventris; Yellowstone Nat’l Pk, WY; 9 Jul 1989; EHW

Fig. 4.21. Reflective eyes:

  1. white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus; Clinton, NY; 31 Jul 2003; EHW
  2. domestic cat, Felis domesticus; Clinton, NY; _______; EHW
  3. human, Homo sapiens; Clinton, NY; ____; EHW
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