Animal coloration: sexy spider scales.
Many male jumping spiders display vibrant colors that are used in visual communication. A recent microscopic study on a jumping spider from Singapore shows that three-layered 'scale sandwiches' of chitin and air are responsible for producing their brilliant iridescent body coloration.
Taylor
Lisa A
LA
School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. lisa.a.taylor@asu.edu
McGraw
Kevin J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013112:Spiders / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology