Pigment granules assist hiding: ray-finned fish

Skin of ray-finned fish changes color in response to light levels and patterns via movement of granules in pigment cells.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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	Light/color

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Understanding how pigments change may be useful in creation of clothing, paints, other surfaces.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Many fish in the teleost group, such as the minnow, change colour in response to the overall reflectivity of their background. Light reaching their retina from above is compared in the brain to that reflected from the background below. The interpretation is transmitted to the skin pigment cells via adrenergic nerves, which control pigment movement. Teleost skin contains pigment cells of different colours: melanophores (black), erythrophores (red), xanthophores (yellow) and iridiophores (iridescent). Pigment granules disperse through the cell from the centre. The area covered by the pigment at any time determines that cell's contribution to the skin tone. Many flatfish, including flounder, go further than overall reflectivity and develop skin patterns according to the light and dark divisions of their background. This seems to involve a more discriminating visual interpretation and produces distinct areas of skin with predominantly, but not exclusively, one type of pigment cell. For example, black patches contain mainly melanophores and light patches mainly iridiophores, which can produce the chequerboard appearance seen in the picture." (Collis 2002:101)

About the inspiring organism

Actinopterygii
Actinopterygii

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Understanding how pigments change may be useful in creation of clothing, paints, other surfaces.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Manufacturing, furniture, carpets, textiles, building

References

Collis, C. 2002. Floundering About. New Scientist ,

Pigment granules assist hiding: ray-finned fish

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