Authors Simon Griffith and Daniel Hooper make two very straightforward, yet interesting findings in their article "A single atom can change the colour of a bird. These are the genes responsible," published in the The Conversation. The findings are based off of two different research papers on pigmentation in birds, focusing on the biochemical reasons for different colors in Pseudeos fuscata, otherwise known as the Dusky Lory.
It turns out that two different genes are responsible for the red-to-yellow color range found these birds. These genes control a single enzyme, which converts red pigments to yellow. In the dusky lory, mutations in the genes cause the enzyme to become inactive, but only in certain parts of the bird. This is why some dusky lories have yellow beaks but red bodies; the genes in the beak cells are mutated, but not in the body cells.
Parrots are really unique in that their pigmentation come from psittacofulvins, a special pigment made by and found in parrots. Most other birds' pigmentation come from their food. I think that this makes parrots much more interesting to study, since their genetic basis for color can lead to much more variation among individuals. Perhaps different kinds of mutations in the dusky lory's genes can lead to more colors besides yellow and red. Albino individuals may also exist.
Wow!! Those parrots are so incredible looking! The concept of color as a role in evolutionary fitness has always fascinated me-- hopefully, more studies can be conducted on this and we can gain more insight into what this variation means for the species!
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