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Adaptive response to sociality and ecology drives the diversification of facial colour patterns in catarrhines

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  • Sharlene E. Santana

    (University of Washington)

  • Jessica Lynch Alfaro

    (Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California Los Angeles
    University of California Los Angeles)

  • Andrew Noonan

    (University of California Los Angeles)

  • Michael E. Alfaro

    (University of California Los Angeles)

Abstract

The faces of Old World monkeys and apes (Catarrhini) exhibit every possible hue in the spectrum of mammal colours. Animal colouration experiences selection for communication, physiology and ecology; however, the relative importance of these factors in producing facial diversity in catarrhines is not known. Here we adopt a comparative approach to test whether facial traits have evolved in tandem with social, geographic and ecological pressures across four catarrhine radiations. Our analyses reveal the underlying correlates of two major axes in the evolution of facial diversity. Facial colour patterns are linked to social factors, such that gregarious and highly sympatric species have evolved more colours in their faces. Facial pigmentation tends to be dominated by ecological factors, and species living in tropical, densely forested and humid habitats in Africa have evolved darker faces. Thus, both sociality and ecology have played a role in producing the highest diversity of faces within mammals.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharlene E. Santana & Jessica Lynch Alfaro & Andrew Noonan & Michael E. Alfaro, 2013. "Adaptive response to sociality and ecology drives the diversification of facial colour patterns in catarrhines," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3765
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3765
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