Viability is associated with melanin-based coloration in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica).

Pigmentation of body surface in animals can have multiple determinants and accomplish diverse functions. Eumelanin and pheomelanin are the main animal pigments, being responsible of yellow, brownish-red and black hues, and have partly common biosynthetic pathways. Many populations of vertebrates sho...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nicola Saino, Maria Romano, Diego Rubolini, Roberto Ambrosini, Manuela Caprioli, Aldo Milzani, Alessandra Costanzo, Graziano Colombo, Luca Canova, Kazumasa Wakamatsu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3616026?pdf=render