Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves
Populations of the Bornean gliding lizard, Draco cornutus, differ markedly in the colour of their gliding membranes. They also differ in local vegetation type (mangrove forest versus lowland rainforest) and consequently, the colour of falling leaves (red and brown/black in mangrove versus green, bro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2014
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| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/1/Marked%20colour%20divergence_abstract.pdf |
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| author | Klomp, D.A. Stuart-Fox, D. Das, I. Ord, T.J |
| author_facet | Klomp, D.A. Stuart-Fox, D. Das, I. Ord, T.J |
| author_sort | Klomp, D.A. |
| building | UNIMAS Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Populations of the Bornean gliding lizard, Draco cornutus, differ markedly in the colour of their gliding membranes. They also differ in local vegetation type (mangrove forest versus lowland rainforest) and consequently, the colour of falling leaves (red and brown/black in mangrove versus green, brown and black in rainforest). We show that the gliding membranes of these lizards closely match the colours of freshly fallen leaves in the local habitat as they appear to the visual system of birds (their probable predators). Furthermore, gliding membranes more closely resembled colours of local fallen leaves than standing foliage or fallen leaves in the other population’s habitat. This suggests that the two populations have diverged in gliding membrane coloration to match the colours of their local falling leaves, and that mimicking falling leaves is an adaptation that functions to
reduce predation by birds. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T06:33:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | unimas-11674 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T06:33:33Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | unimas-116742016-04-29T02:13:09Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/ Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves Klomp, D.A. Stuart-Fox, D. Das, I. Ord, T.J SF Animal culture Populations of the Bornean gliding lizard, Draco cornutus, differ markedly in the colour of their gliding membranes. They also differ in local vegetation type (mangrove forest versus lowland rainforest) and consequently, the colour of falling leaves (red and brown/black in mangrove versus green, brown and black in rainforest). We show that the gliding membranes of these lizards closely match the colours of freshly fallen leaves in the local habitat as they appear to the visual system of birds (their probable predators). Furthermore, gliding membranes more closely resembled colours of local fallen leaves than standing foliage or fallen leaves in the other population’s habitat. This suggests that the two populations have diverged in gliding membrane coloration to match the colours of their local falling leaves, and that mimicking falling leaves is an adaptation that functions to reduce predation by birds. The Royal Society 2014 Article PeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/1/Marked%20colour%20divergence_abstract.pdf Klomp, D.A. and Stuart-Fox, D. and Das, I. and Ord, T.J (2014) Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves. Biology Letters. pp. 1-5. ISSN 1744-957X http://theherpetofaunalbiologygroup.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/1/5/14155652/439-_klomp_et_al.__draco_colouration_.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0776 |
| spellingShingle | SF Animal culture Klomp, D.A. Stuart-Fox, D. Das, I. Ord, T.J Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| title | Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| title_full | Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| title_fullStr | Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| title_short | Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| title_sort | marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves |
| topic | SF Animal culture |
| url | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11674/1/Marked%20colour%20divergence_abstract.pdf |