Nature Communications (May 2020)

Exposure to UV radiance predicts repeated evolution of concealed black skin in birds

  • Michaël P. J. Nicolaï,
  • Matthew D. Shawkey,
  • Sara Porchetta,
  • Ruben Claus,
  • Liliana D’Alba

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15894-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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In contrast to bird plumage, little is known about the evolution of bird skin color. Here, Nicolaï et al. find that black skin has evolved over 100 times in birds and is associated with baldness and/or white feathers as well as with high irradiation habitats, suggesting a role in UV protection.