ABSTRACT
Integumental pigmentation, a prominent feature of most vertebrate species, has intrigued and captured the interest of many researchers. Pigmentation has been assumed to serve many functions. 1•2 In lower vertebrates, the ability of an animal to rapidly adapt to its environment, primarily by the process of rapid physiological color change, provides camouflage which enables the animal to survive. On the other hand, rather than to conceal an animal, pigmentation can make it more conspicuous. Thus, some adaptive color changes can serve as a social cue, either for deterrence and warning or for sexual attraction. A well-described function for pigmentation is thermoregulation. It is not surprising that poikilotherms, can acquire in a high ambient temperature, a bright color to reflect sun rays in order to cool their bodies. In cold weather they can attain a dark color to raise their body temperature.
