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Concept
Biological pigment
Summary
Biological pigments, also known simply as pigments or biochromes, are substances produced by living organisms that have a color resulting from selective color absorption. Biological pigments include plant pigments and flower pigments. Many biological structures, such as skin, eyes, feathers, fur and hair contain pigments such as melanin in specialized cells called chromatophores. In some species, pigments accrue over very long periods during an individual's lifespan.
Pigment color differs from structural color in that it is the same for all viewing angles, whereas structural color is the result of selective reflection or iridescence, usually because of multilayer structures. For example, butterfly wings typically contain structural color, although many butterflies have cells that contain pigment as well.
See conjugated systems for electron bond chemistry that causes these molecules to have pigment.
Heme/porphyrin-based: chlorophyll, bilirubin, hemocyanin, hemoglobin, myoglobin
Light-emitting: luciferin
Carotenoids:
Hematochromes (algal pigments, mixes of carotenoids and their derivates)
Carotenes: alpha and beta carotene, lycopene, rhodopsin
Xanthophylls: canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein
Proteinaceous: phytochrome, phycobiliproteins
Psittacofulvins: a class of red and yellow pigments unique to parrots
Turacin and Turacoverdin: red and green pigments found in turacos and related species
Other: melanin, urochrome, flavonoids
The primary function of pigments in plants is photosynthesis, which uses the green pigment chlorophyll and several colorful pigments that absorb as much light energy as possible. Pigments are also known to play a role in pollination where pigment accumulation or loss can lead to floral color change, signaling to pollinators which flowers are rewarding and contain more pollen and nectar.
Plant pigments include many molecules, such as porphyrins, carotenoids, anthocyanins and betalains. All biological pigments selectively absorb certain wavelengths of light while reflecting others.
Official source
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