Coloration by pigments Animal coloration

the red pigment in flamingo s plumage comes diet of shrimps, microscopic algae.

pigments coloured chemicals (such melanin) in animal tissues. example, arctic fox has white coat in winter (containing little pigment), , brown coat in summer (containing more pigment), example of seasonal camouflage (a polyphenism). many animals, including mammals, birds, , amphibians, unable synthesize of pigments colour fur or feathers, other brown or black melanins give many mammals earth tones. example, bright yellow of american goldfinch, startling orange of juvenile red-spotted newt, deep red of cardinal , pink of flamingo produced carotenoid pigments synthesized plants. in case of flamingo, bird eats pink shrimps, unable synthesize carotenoids. shrimps derive body colour microscopic red algae, plants able create own pigments, including both carotenoids , (green) chlorophyll. animals eat green plants not become green, however, chlorophyll not survive digestion.