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Ecological drivers of ultraviolet colour evolution in snakes

Author

Listed:
  • Hayley L. Crowell

    (University of Michigan)

  • John David Curlis

    (University of Michigan)

  • Hannah I. Weller

    (Brown University
    University of Helsinki)

  • Alison R. Davis Rabosky

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) colour patterns invisible to humans are widespread in nature. However, research bias favouring species with conspicuous colours under sexual selection can limit our assessment of other ecological drivers of UV colour, like interactions between predators and prey. Here we demonstrate widespread UV colouration across Western Hemisphere snakes and find stronger support for a predator defence function than for reproduction. We find that UV colouration has evolved repeatedly in species with ecologies most sensitive to bird predation, with no sexual dichromatism at any life stage. By modelling visual systems of potential predators, we find that snake conspicuousness correlates with UV colouration and predator cone number, providing a plausible mechanism for selection. Our results suggest that UV reflectance should not be assumed absent in “cryptically coloured” animals, as signalling beyond human visual capacities may be a key outcome of species interactions in many taxa for which UV colour is likely underreported.

Suggested Citation

  • Hayley L. Crowell & John David Curlis & Hannah I. Weller & Alison R. Davis Rabosky, 2024. "Ecological drivers of ultraviolet colour evolution in snakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49506-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49506-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alison R. Davis Rabosky & Christian L. Cox & Daniel L. Rabosky & Pascal O. Title & Iris A. Holmes & Anat Feldman & Jimmy A. McGuire, 2016. "Coral snakes predict the evolution of mimicry across New World snakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, September.
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