Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 14 h ago, last 17 min ago, peak #2

Galapagos wildlife owe their colors to carotenoids

Original: 🦎 NEW: # Carotenoids are # pigments made by # plants , # algae , and # phytoplankton that # animals cannot produce thems

Carotenoids are the pigments behind the striking reds, oranges, and yellows seen across Galapagos wildlife, including land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and flamingos. Made by plants, algae, and phytoplankton, these compounds cannot be produced by animals themselves; the animals acquire them through their diet, which is what gives them their characteristic coloring.

Why now: A science post about how Galapagos animals get their vivid colors through diet is circulating among science-interested readers.

Galapagosland iguanasblue-footed boobiesflamingoscarotenoids

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Evidence

• 🦎 NEW: # Carotenoids are # pigments made by # plants , # algae , and # phytoplankton that # animals cannot produce themselves. # Galapagos # wildlife , including land # iguanas , blue-footed # boobies , and # flamingos , acquire these red, orange, and yellow compounds through #… · tksst@fediscience.org · 4

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