Fig. 2: Colour reflectance in the ultraviolet spectrum is widespread across snake species.
From: Ecological drivers of ultraviolet colour evolution in snakes
a Photographs of snakes taken with multispectral imaging reveal UV reflectance in wavelengths not visible to the human eye. Snakes vary from highly reflective patterns (top) to weak or no UV reflectance (bottom; VIS human-visible wavelengths). b Snake species (N = 110 measured) vary widely in which visible colours (squares) also reflect in UV wavelengths (triangles), especially across the dorsal side (outer rings) versus the ventral underside of the snake (inner rings). Scientific illustration of Helicops angulutus in the graphical legend courtesy of J. Megahan. c Snake colour patch measurements (single lines) show that UV reflectance (uvR and uvB values) is not easily predictable from snake visible colouration (RGB values) but is generally highest in white patches (see also Supplementary Figs. 2–4). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
