Reflection of ratfish skin (Hydrolagus colliei)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A study of the physical basis of the coloration of the shiny integument of the chimaeroid Hydrolagus colliei (ratfish) is presented. The metallic sheen is caused by reflection of light from platelets in the skin that are oriented mostly vertically. They lie in a layer of oriented reflecting cells in the dermis. Additionally, there is a stratum argenteum in the subdermis and in the peritoneum. The oriented reflecting layer is 4 to 11 cells deep; the cells contain about 12 flat crystals regularly stacked above each other. Each crystal lies in a crystal chamber, delimited by a chamber membrane; the chamber is enclosed in a crystal sac bounded by a unit membrane. Cells of the stratum argenteum also contain crystals in crystal sacs. Estimates are made of crystal thickness from interference colors, and of spacing from electron micrographs. The superposed thin lamellae are about one-quarter wavelength thick; the organization is one that could produce high reflectivity by constructive interference. There is a medley of colors, but the overall hue is unsaturated and gold.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: