[Taxacom] Birds as well (Ultraviolet fluorescence in mammals)

[Kenneth Kinman]

Hi again,
      I found a couple of articles indicating that ultraviolet fluorescence is porphyrin-based (at least in some birds).  Both articles indicate the fluorescence is useful in mate selection.
      Therefore I think it likely that such fluorescence is porphyrin-based in mammals as well, and hopefully testing would verify this.  However, this is visually useful for the birds in mate selection.  So it might not be used in mate selection in mammals.   It could be used in marking a territory by mammals (especially those with poor eye-sight but a keen sense of smell).   Testing for porphyrins would be fairly straight forward, but determining its usefulness to mammals would be more difficult.
                              ------------------Ken Kinman

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55522-y

http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2013/02/25/pretty_in_pink_the_northern_saw_whet_owl_s_flashy_secret

[https://media.springernature.com/m685/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-019-55522-y/MediaObjects/41598_2019_55522_Fig1_HTML.png]<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55522-y>
Correlates of individual variation in the porphyrin-based fluorescence of red-necked nightjars (Caprimulgus ruficollis) | Scientific Reports - Nature<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55522-y>
Many nocturnal animals, including invertebrates such as scorpions and a variety of vertebrate species, including toadlets, flying squirrels, owls, and nightjars, emit bright fluorescence under ...
www.nature.com


________________________________
From: Taxacom <taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu> on behalf of Kenneth Kinman via Taxacom <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2021 5:06 PM
To: taxacom <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
Subject: [Taxacom] Ultraviolet fluorescence in mammals

Hi All,
       I was reading a recent article about UV fluorescence that is being found in more and more species of mammals.   Reading other literature on the phenomenon, the reason they fluoresce seems to be unknown.
       Looking at various photographs, it seems like such fluorescence is more pronounced on ventral areas of the body, rather than the dorsal areas.  I would therefore suggest that such fluorescence is caused by chemicals (such as porphyrins?) in the urine and/or secreted from scent glands.   This might explain why so many such species are nocturnal or live underground, and therefore marking their territories (or seeking mates) in low light.  I would think testing for such chemicals (such as porphyrins) might provide important information.
      The most recent discovery seems to be in southeastern pocket gophers: "Southeastern Pocket Gophers Glow, But No One Knows Why".   https://www.wabe.org/pocket-gophers-glow-but-no-one-knows-why/
                              ----------------Ken Kinman
P.S.  I suspect something similar might occur in nocturnal birds.
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