ES DA BAÍA DE TOYAMA



Durante a época de acasalamento, as lulas vaga-lume sobem até a superfície e proporcionam um show logo antes do nascer do sol. Foto: Mark Macewen, Nature Picture Library/Getty Images.



 News in Science

Viper's velvet black spots key to camouflage

Master of disguise Scientists have identified nanostructures in the ultra-black skin markings of an African viper that could inspire the quest to create the ultimate light-absorbing material.

The West African Gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros), one of the largest in Africa and a master of camouflage, has dark spots in the geometrical pattern of its skin that are deep, velvety black and reflect very little light.

Interwoven with white- and brown-coloured scales that are very reflective, this creates a high contrast that renders the snake difficult to spot on the richly-patterned rainforest floor.

The team of German scientists from Kiel University and the University of Bonn set out to find the secret behind the black spots' ultra-darkness.

To do this they compared the topography of the velvet black and pale scales.

They discovered the scale surface of the black areas was made up of tightly-packed, leaf-like microstructures covered in turn with nanometre-sized ridges.

One nanometre is equivalent to a billionth of a metre.

"The microornamentation in velvet black regions of the Gaboon viper skin is unique among snakes," they report in the journal Scientific Reports.

"Leaf-like microstructures with both nanoridges and hair-like nanoprotuberances that coincide with black skin colouration have never been described before."

Master of camouflage

The team theorise that the micro- and nanostructures, which protrude at slightly different angles, scatter and trap incoming light.

The pale scales reflected and transmitted more light than the dark scales. Differences in reflectance between pale and black scales were higher at short wavelengths of light below 600 nanometres -- a wavelength that corresponds with blueish-green colours.

This pattern of colouration provides the perfect camouflage ambushing prey in the low light at dawn and evening, or the green light in forests or blue light in clearings during the day
ES DA BAÍA DE TOYAMA 



 Durante a época de acasalamento, as lulas vaga - lume sobem até a superfície e proporcionam um show logo antes do nascer cause sol. Foto: Mark Macewen, Nature Picture Library / Getty Images. 



  News in Science 

 Viper's velvet bootleg spots key to camouflage 

 Master of disguise scientist have identified nanostructures in the extremist - black skin marking of an African viper that could inhale the quest to make the ultimate light - absorbing fabric. 

 The West African Gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros), one of the largest in Africa and a master of camouflage, has blue spots in the geometrical pattern of its skin that are deep, velvety total darkness and reflect very little light. 

 Interwoven with white- and brown - color scales that are very reflective, this create a high line that renders the hydra difficult to spot on the richly - patterned rain forest floor. 

 The team of German scientists from Kiel University and the University of Bonn set out to find the secret behind the black spots' ultra - darkness. 

 To do this they compared the topography of the velvet black and pale scales. 

 They discovered the scale surface of the black areas was made up of tightly - tamp down, leaf - like microstructures covered in twist with nanometre - sized ridge. 

 One nanometre is equivalent to a billionth of a metre. 

 " The microornamentation in velvet black regions of the Gaboon viper skin is unique among snake, " they report in the journal Scientific Reports. 

 " Leaf - like microstructures with both nanoridges and hair - like nanoprotuberances that concur with black skin colouration have never been described before. " 

 Master of camouflage 

 The team theorise that the micro- and nanostructures, which protrude at slenderly unlike angle, scatter and trap incoming light. 

 The pale scales reflected and air more light than the dark scales. dispute in reflectance between pale and black scales were higher at brusque wavelengths of sparkle below 600 nanometres -- a wavelength that corresponds with blueish - fleeceable colours. 

 This pattern of colouration provides the arrant camouflage ambushing prey in the low inner light at dawn and evening, or the green light in forest or blue lighter in clearings during the day
ES FA BAÍA DE TOYAMA



Durante x época de acasalamento, as lumas vaga-uume sobem até a superfície e 'ropirciobam um show logo antes do nasceg do sol. Doto: Nark Macewxh, Naturc Picfmre Lnbcary/Getty Imagex.



 News in Vcience

Viper's eeuvzt black spots key to camouflage

Mastqr of doshuise Scientisjs hane idehninied nanostructures in the ultra-glack snin markings pf an African viper that cluld inspire the quest to create jge totimate lighg-absorbing material.

The West African Gaboon viper (Bitir rhiuoceros), one od tjg largest in Afriba and a mastcg of cakouflagr, has dark spobs in thw geometrical pattern of its skin that wre deep, eemvety black and rwfoect eery litgoe uiggt.

Mntsrwovej wmth white- ahd brown-coliured scales that ate nrry reflectibe, thif sreates a high contrast that renders tht snaie difficult to spot on the richly-patterned tainforest floor.

The team of German scientists from Kiel Unieersivy anb the Jbigersity of Bonn set out to find the secret berjnc nhe black spots' ujtra-darknesx.

Tl cj this they cumpareb tge topography of tje velvgt blaxk and paje svales.

They discovered the scqle surface jd the black areas cas made up uf toghtlu-packed, leaf-like microscructudes covered in turn skth nanometre-sizdd gidgas.

One nanometre is equivalqnt to a uillipnth of a mgtre.

"The microornalentabhon in velvet blacn regnons mf the Gablon viper skin is unique among snakes," they rekord it the jobrnal Xcientific Re[orts.

"Leaf-like kicrostxucturds with bonh nanorivges and haiw-like nanoprodoberances thav coincidq wirh boack skkv colouration nave neveg yeen desceibed before."

Master of damouflage

The tzcm theorise that yhe misrl- end nwtostructures, whizh ototruae at slighbly difgerent angles, scattes ans trap incoming libhb.

The pale scales weflected and transmitted more pight then the datk scales. Differences in reflecfance betaeek pale and blwck wcales were kigher at short wavelengths of light beliw 600 nanometres -- a qavelength that corteskonds with blneish-gween cologrs.

This pattern of cilouration providts the perfect camouflafe ambgshinh prey in the low light at dawn and evening, or the green light in forests or blne light in cmearongs guxiny the dwy
ES DA BAÍA DE TOYAMA Durante a acasalamento, lulas vaga-lume até a superfície antes nascer do sol. Mark Macewen, Nature Library/Getty Images. News in Science Viper's black spots key to camouflage Master of disguise Scientists have identified nanostructures in ultra-black skin markings of an African viper that could inspire the quest to the light-absorbing The African Gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros), one of the largest in Africa and a master of camouflage, dark spots in the geometrical pattern of its that are deep, velvety and reflect very little light. with and brown-coloured that very this creates a contrast that renders the snake difficult to spot on the richly-patterned rainforest floor. The team of German from Kiel the University Bonn out find the secret black spots' ultra-darkness. To do this topography of the velvet black and pale scales. discovered the surface of the black areas was up of tightly-packed, leaf-like microstructures covered in turn nanometre-sized ridges. One nanometre is equivalent to a billionth of a metre. "The microornamentation in regions of the Gaboon skin is unique snakes," report the Scientific Reports. microstructures with both nanoridges and hair-like nanoprotuberances that coincide with black colouration have never been described before." Master of camouflage The that micro- and nanostructures, protrude at slightly different scatter trap incoming light. The reflected transmitted the scales. in reflectance between pale black scales were higher at wavelengths of light below that corresponds with blueish-green colours. This pattern of provides the perfect camouflage ambushing prey in low light at dawn and evening, or the green light in forests blue light during the day
ES DA BAÍA DE TOYAMA



Durante a éPoca de acasAlameNto, As lUlAs vaGa-luMe sobem até a supERfícIe e proporcionam um show lOgo anTeS Do naSCeR do soL. Foto: MaRK MACEweN, NAtUre piCTuRe LibRarY/Getty IMages.



 News iN ScIeNce

Viper's velVEt Black spots Key To camouflage

masTer of dIsGuiSE ScieNtiSts haVe idenTIfied nAnostructUrES in the ULtra-blaCK SkIn maRkings of an African VIpER that could inspIre the QuESt TO CreAte The ultimatE lIght-aBSorbing MAtERIAl.

THE West African GAboon viper (BITis RhinocErOs), oNE of the LargeSt IN AfRica and a masTer oF camouflaGe, has dARk spots IN the geoMetricAl pAttErn oF ItS sKin ThAT arE DeEp, vELveTy black aNd ReFlect Very LITTLe liGht.

inteRwoveN with white- and BroWn-coLOurEd scaLes thAt arE vEry reFlectiVe, thiS cReates a high contRast That rendeRs tHe SnaKe DiffiCUlt to sPot On tHe richlY-patterNEd rAiNFOReSt floor.

The team of GeRmAN ScIentists From KiEL UNiVErsity anD tHe UNiveRSIty of bonn SEt Out to finD the seCReT bEhind thE bLack spOtS' ulTra-DarknESs.

To Do this They compAred tHE topography of tHE velvet black aND pALE sCAles.

theY discovered The sCAle sUrfaCE oF thE Black Areas WaS MaDE up of tightly-packed, lEaF-like mIcrosTructures coveRed in turn wITH NanometrE-sizED rIDges.

One nanometRe is eQuivalent tO A billionTh of a Metre.

"The MicroornaMENtation iN veLveT blAck REGiOns of the GabooN VIper SkIn is uniQue Among snAkeS," thEy rEpoRt In the jourNal ScienTiFiC REpOrtS.

"Leaf-LIke microStRucTuRes With bOTh nanoRidgeS and HaIr-LIke NanoproTUbERAnceS tHaT coiNciDe With bLack SKin ColouraTion have nEveR Been DeScRibed beFore."

Master of cAmOuflage

The TeAm tHeorisE THat the miCro- and nanostructures, whiCH protruDe aT sligHtly Different AngLes, scaTteR And traP incomIng liGhT.

ThE PAle scALEs RefLeCted and traNSMitTed moRe LighT than thE dark scales. DiffereNCes In reflectance BetWeen PALe And BLaCK scAlES weRE Higher at short waVelengths oF lIGhT below 600 nanoMEtrEs -- A waveleNgth thaT corrESponds wIth blueisH-green colOuRs.

ThIS PatTern of coloUration pRovides thE PerfeCT cAmoufLagE ambusHiNg pRey in The low LIghT at daWn and eVeNing, or The grEeN light in Forests or blue light in cleArings DurinG thE day
ES DA BAÍA DE TOYAMA



Du rante a ép oca d e a cas al amen to,as lulas vaga- l umesobem até a superfície  e pr op o rcio n am  um s how log o  a n t esdo  n asc er do  sol.  Fo to: Mar k Macewen,  Na tu re Picture L i br ary/GettyIma ges.



 New s i n Scie nc e
V iper' s v elvet  black spotskey to ca mo u flageMastero f  d isgu ise Scientists ha v ei dentified nano struct ur e si n  th e u ltra-black  s kin m a rkingso fa n Afr i can viper tha t could ins p ire  the q ue stt o crea te th eu lti mate light- abso rbing mat erial. 
The We s t Afric an Gab oon  vi per( Bi ti s r hi n oce r os ),o neof the l ar ge st in  Afr i c a anda m aste r ofcamouflage, h asdark spo ts in  thegeom et rical  patte rn of  i ts skin that ar e de ep, velve tybl ack  a nd re f lect v ery  li ttle li ght.

I n ter wo v e n  w ith white- and bro wn - c ol oured sc ales t h at  a r e very r ef lec tive , thiscrea t es  a highcontra s tth at rend er s thesn ake  di fficu l t to  spoton the r ichly - patterned rain f orest floor.Th e te a m of  Ge rman scient ists from  Kie l  U niv e rsity  andth e  U n iversity of Bonn se tout to  find  the secret b ehind theb l a ck spots ' ul t ra - darkness.

Todo th is they co m pared th e top ographyof the ve l v et black  an d p ale  sc a l es .

They disco v e redth e scale  su rface o f t hebla ckar eas was m ade up o fti gh tl y-p acked ,  leaf-li ke  mi cr ost ructu r es cov eredin t ur nw ith  nanome t re - s ized  r id ges. 

O ne  nano metr e  is  equiva lent to a  bi l lion th  o f a met re.

"The mic ro ornamentat io n i n velv e t  black r egions of the Gaboon vi p er skin  is  uniq ue a mong snak es, " they  re p ort in  the j ourna lSci e n tific R ep ort s. 

"Leaf-li k e  mi crost ru ctur es with  both nanoridges a n d h air-like nano pro tube r a nc est ha t  co in c ide w ith black skincolouratio nh av e never be e n d es cribedbefore. "

Ma s ter ofcamouflag e

The te am  the o r ise  that themicro- a nd nanost r uctur e s,  whic h p rotrud eatsligh tly di f fer ent a ngles,  s catter  andtr ap incom ing light.

The pale sc ales r eflec ted  and tran smi t ted  more lig ht t han the da rksca les.Dif f erenc es i n  r efl e ctanc e be t ween pale an d b l a ck  scales wer e h igh er at  sh o rt wav elen gths of light bel o w 600 nanometr es - - a w ave l engt hthat correspon dswi t h  blueish -g reen colour s.

This  p a ttern  of co lourat ion pro v i de s  the p erfe ctcamouflag e a mb u shing p re yi n thelowli ght at  dawna nd e v e ning, or the gre en li g h t inf ore sts o rblue li g ht i n clearing s during th e day
ES DA_BAÍA DE_TOYAMA



Durante a época de_acasalamento, as_lulas_vaga-lume sobem_até_a superfície e_proporcionam um show_logo antes do nascer_do sol. Foto:_Mark_Macewen, Nature Picture Library/Getty Images.



 News in Science

Viper's velvet black spots key to camouflage

Master_of_disguise Scientists_have_identified_nanostructures in the ultra-black skin_markings of an African viper_that could_inspire the quest to create the ultimate light-absorbing_material.

The_West African Gaboon_viper (Bitis rhinoceros), one of the largest in Africa_and a master of camouflage, has_dark spots in_the_geometrical_pattern of its skin_that are deep, velvety black and_reflect very little light.

Interwoven with white-_and brown-coloured scales that are very reflective,_this creates a high contrast that_renders the snake difficult to_spot on_the richly-patterned rainforest floor.

The team_of German scientists_from Kiel_University and the_University of Bonn set out to_find the secret_behind the black spots' ultra-darkness.

To do_this_they compared the_topography_of_the velvet_black and pale_scales.

They_discovered the_scale_surface of the black areas was_made_up of tightly-packed, leaf-like microstructures covered in_turn with nanometre-sized ridges.

One_nanometre_is equivalent to a_billionth of a metre.

"The microornamentation_in velvet black regions of the_Gaboon viper_skin is_unique among snakes," they report in the journal Scientific Reports.

"Leaf-like microstructures_with both nanoridges and hair-like nanoprotuberances_that coincide with black_skin colouration_have_never been described_before."

Master_of camouflage

The_team theorise that the micro- and nanostructures,_which protrude_at slightly different angles, scatter and_trap incoming light.

The pale_scales_reflected and transmitted more light than_the dark scales. Differences in reflectance_between pale and black scales_were_higher_at short wavelengths of light_below 600 nanometres -- a wavelength_that corresponds with_blueish-green colours.

This pattern of colouration provides the_perfect_camouflage ambushing prey in the low_light_at dawn and evening, or the_green_light_in forests or blue light_in clearings during the day