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Which colors can melanins produce in hair and feathers?
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coloration
The anole changes color in response to its stress level.
In the context of biology, melanins are responsible for producing a range of earth-toned colors in hair and feathers. These pigments can generate pale-yellow, tawny, buff, reddish, brown, and black colors.12
The specific appearance of these colors depends on the concentration and physical arrangement of melanin granules. While black and brown shades are primarily attributed to eumelanin, reddish-yellow hues are produced by pheomelanin. Additionally, melanin plays a critical role in structural coloration; dark layers of melanin often serve as a light-absorbing background that intensifies structural blues or iridescent displays in bird feathers.132