Mechanisms of Skin Coloration and Its Changes in the Blue-Green Damselfish, Chromis viridis : Physiology

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Mechanism of light reflection from the skin of the blue-green damselfish, Chromis viridis, was investigated. A chromatophore unit, consisting of a melanophore, a number of iridophores, and, if present, a few xanthophores in this order from the bottom to the top was found in the dermis. The iridophores could be categorized into motile and non-motile types. The former iridophores usually assumed a blue or greenish color, while the latters did yellowish tints mainly. The motile and non-motile iridophores were found to be assembled above the cell body and the surrounding dendrite zone, respectively, of the melanophore. The greenish hue of the skin was thus shown to be due to a mixed effect of various colors from different areas. Role of xanthophores or melanophores in producing delicate skin hues was also explained.
社団法人日本動物学会の論文