How could a species have naturally developed metalic looking hair?
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
The key idea in the concept of metallic hair color is the word “metal.” Metal is shiny. Metal is iridescent. Metals come in a range of finishes from warm gold to icy silver. Metallic hair colors, at their best, are dimensional, dazzling tones that shine like platinum, and make it look more exotic.
How could this have developed naturally in our species?
science-based biology
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
The key idea in the concept of metallic hair color is the word “metal.” Metal is shiny. Metal is iridescent. Metals come in a range of finishes from warm gold to icy silver. Metallic hair colors, at their best, are dimensional, dazzling tones that shine like platinum, and make it look more exotic.
How could this have developed naturally in our species?
science-based biology
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
2
I don't know about iridescent hair or fur, but many birds have iridescent feathers, so presumably iridescent hair might have features in common with iridescent feathers.
– M. A. Golding
Nov 10 at 15:43
2
Insects also have iridescent structures in their chitin bodies.
– fredsbend
Nov 10 at 21:12
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
The key idea in the concept of metallic hair color is the word “metal.” Metal is shiny. Metal is iridescent. Metals come in a range of finishes from warm gold to icy silver. Metallic hair colors, at their best, are dimensional, dazzling tones that shine like platinum, and make it look more exotic.
How could this have developed naturally in our species?
science-based biology
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
The key idea in the concept of metallic hair color is the word “metal.” Metal is shiny. Metal is iridescent. Metals come in a range of finishes from warm gold to icy silver. Metallic hair colors, at their best, are dimensional, dazzling tones that shine like platinum, and make it look more exotic.
How could this have developed naturally in our species?
science-based biology
science-based biology
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
asked Nov 10 at 15:25
Incognito
4,00953757
4,00953757
2
I don't know about iridescent hair or fur, but many birds have iridescent feathers, so presumably iridescent hair might have features in common with iridescent feathers.
– M. A. Golding
Nov 10 at 15:43
2
Insects also have iridescent structures in their chitin bodies.
– fredsbend
Nov 10 at 21:12
add a comment |
2
I don't know about iridescent hair or fur, but many birds have iridescent feathers, so presumably iridescent hair might have features in common with iridescent feathers.
– M. A. Golding
Nov 10 at 15:43
2
Insects also have iridescent structures in their chitin bodies.
– fredsbend
Nov 10 at 21:12
2
2
I don't know about iridescent hair or fur, but many birds have iridescent feathers, so presumably iridescent hair might have features in common with iridescent feathers.
– M. A. Golding
Nov 10 at 15:43
I don't know about iridescent hair or fur, but many birds have iridescent feathers, so presumably iridescent hair might have features in common with iridescent feathers.
– M. A. Golding
Nov 10 at 15:43
2
2
Insects also have iridescent structures in their chitin bodies.
– fredsbend
Nov 10 at 21:12
Insects also have iridescent structures in their chitin bodies.
– fredsbend
Nov 10 at 21:12
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
They just need to have the keratin (or whatever molecule they use to make up their hair) arranged in such a way that it creates a diffractive grating.
In such a way the diffracted light will give the hair an iridescent appearance, in the same way some birds have their metallic and iridescent appearance.
Since exhibiting such features requires good fitness (to keep the feather/hair in good conditions), it could have plausibly evolved as a way of display physical fitness and attract the female during the mating ritual.
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
14
down vote
They just need to have the keratin (or whatever molecule they use to make up their hair) arranged in such a way that it creates a diffractive grating.
In such a way the diffracted light will give the hair an iridescent appearance, in the same way some birds have their metallic and iridescent appearance.
Since exhibiting such features requires good fitness (to keep the feather/hair in good conditions), it could have plausibly evolved as a way of display physical fitness and attract the female during the mating ritual.
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
They just need to have the keratin (or whatever molecule they use to make up their hair) arranged in such a way that it creates a diffractive grating.
In such a way the diffracted light will give the hair an iridescent appearance, in the same way some birds have their metallic and iridescent appearance.
Since exhibiting such features requires good fitness (to keep the feather/hair in good conditions), it could have plausibly evolved as a way of display physical fitness and attract the female during the mating ritual.
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
up vote
14
down vote
They just need to have the keratin (or whatever molecule they use to make up their hair) arranged in such a way that it creates a diffractive grating.
In such a way the diffracted light will give the hair an iridescent appearance, in the same way some birds have their metallic and iridescent appearance.
Since exhibiting such features requires good fitness (to keep the feather/hair in good conditions), it could have plausibly evolved as a way of display physical fitness and attract the female during the mating ritual.
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
They just need to have the keratin (or whatever molecule they use to make up their hair) arranged in such a way that it creates a diffractive grating.
In such a way the diffracted light will give the hair an iridescent appearance, in the same way some birds have their metallic and iridescent appearance.
Since exhibiting such features requires good fitness (to keep the feather/hair in good conditions), it could have plausibly evolved as a way of display physical fitness and attract the female during the mating ritual.
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
answered Nov 10 at 16:05
L.Dutch♦
69.9k22167336
69.9k22167336
add a comment |
add a comment |
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f129795%2fhow-could-a-species-have-naturally-developed-metalic-looking-hair%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
2
I don't know about iridescent hair or fur, but many birds have iridescent feathers, so presumably iridescent hair might have features in common with iridescent feathers.
– M. A. Golding
Nov 10 at 15:43
2
Insects also have iridescent structures in their chitin bodies.
– fredsbend
Nov 10 at 21:12