Body coloration and color alternation among tropical forest mammals
Zeitschrift Fur Zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung
1991
Journal Article
29
2
123-138
0044-3808
PURSUIT-INVITATION;SIGNALS
Despite different phylogenetic origins, the mammals of Gabon and Guiana show very similar colour patterns. The coloration is closely correlated with several biological parameters: body weight, diet, and activity rhythm. The less dangerous the living conditions, the more easily perceptible are body colours. Within the same community, the degree of colour convergence between species of similar body size is very low among diurnal carnivores or between they and their prey, that is when interspecific encounters can be dangerous. In contrast, it is higher among diurnal terrestrial frugivores of folivores of similar size, than among those of unequal size. Owing to the few colours available, and to the regular size spacing between species, all species are arranged into narrow unicoloured size strata (indistinct colour or red), regularly alternating along the whole size range. Since most species of similar size are well differentiated from each other by ecology, each solitary animal can be sure that another having both the same size and colour is conspecific. The colour alternation does not exist when it is not useful: nocturnal, arboreal, or flying mammals.