Since Darwin's conception of sexual selection theory, scientists have struggled to identify the
evolutionary forces underlying the pervasive differences between male and female …

The signalling function of melanin‐based colouration is debated. Sexual selection theory
states that ornaments should be costly to produce, maintain, wear or display to signal quality …

Melanin, including both eu‐and pheomelanin forms, is the most common pigment type in
animals and plays numerous adaptive roles. However, the effect of diet on melanin …

In many vertebrate species, individuals exhibit large variation in the degree of melanin-
based coloration on their body. Dark and pale individuals differ in diverse physiological and …

It has been proposed that niche and behavioral processes may promote the coexistence of
alternative color morphs in discrete areas. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that …

Melanins are the most widespread pigments in animals but their adaptive significance
remains elusive. Recent studies suggest that intraspecific variation in melanin-based …

Variations in melanin-based pigmentation patterns are frequent evolutionary adaptations in
vertebrates and allow the study of phenotypic diversity across populations as well as …

Highlights•Coloration relates to lifetime fitness in opposite ways in males of two morphs.•In
an aggressive, promiscuous morph, bright coloration enhances fitness.•In a less aggressive …

Colour and pigmentation variation attracted fish biologists for a while, but high-throughput
genomic studies investigating the molecular basis of body pigmentation remain still limited …

Contemporary patterns of diversity are often the result of allopatric evolution driven by either
adaptive or non-adaptive processes. The admixture of previously isolated gene pools …