Colour patterning in the skin of the reed-frog

Abstract

A collec1ion 01 37 Natal reed·frogs, HyperoJius marmoratus, from a single locality was studied for their dorsal colour pattems. Data were assembled on the spectrophotometry, the structure and distribution of ttie chromato· phores by means of light and electron microscopy, and the features of colour patterning. An attempt was made to regard colour patterns as the end result of a definable process of differentiation. A number of possible rules was set out according to which the patterns Observed might be generated.

S. Afr. J. Zool. 1987, 22(2)