Erythrism

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Stuffed European badger with atypical erythristic fur

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Erythrism or erythrochroism refers to an unusual reddish pigmentation of an animal's fur, hair, skin, feathers, or eggshells.[1]

Causes of erythrism include

  • genetic mutations which cause an absence of a normal pigment and/or excessive production of others[2]
  • diet, as in bees feeding on maraschino juice[3]

Erythrism in katydids has been occasionally observed. The coloring might be a camouflage that helps some members of the species survive on red plants.[4]

Gallery [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Dariusz Bukaciński and Monika Bukacińska (1997), "Production of Erythristic Eggs by the Black-Headed Gull in Poland", Willson Bull. (Wilson Ornithological Society) 109 (1): 177–182, JSTOR 4163790  More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)
  2. ^ Helen Hays and Kenneth C. Parkes (1993), "Erythristic Eggs in the Common Tern", J. Field Ornithol (Association of Field Ornithologists) 64 (3): 341–345, JSTOR 4513830  More than one of |number= and |issue= specified (help)
  3. ^ Sarah Schmidt, Helping Brooklyn's Red Stingers Get Off The Juice, onearth.org, December 1, 2010
  4. ^ Gary Noel Ross (1 June 2003), "Pretty in pink", Natural History 

External links [edit]