Cryptic iridescence in a fossil weevil generated by single diamond photonic crystals.
J R Soc Interface
; 11(100): 20140736, 2014 Nov 06.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25185581
ABSTRACT
Nature's most spectacular colours originate in integumentary tissue architectures that scatter light via nanoscale modulations of the refractive index. The most intricate biophotonic nanostructures are three-dimensional crystals with opal, single diamond or single gyroid lattices. Despite intense interest in their optical and structural properties, the evolution of such nanostructures is poorly understood, due in part to a lack of data from the fossil record. Here, we report preservation of single diamond (Fd-3m) three-dimensional photonic crystals in scales of a 735,000 year old specimen of the brown Nearctic weevil Hypera diversipunctata from Gold Run, Canada, and in extant conspecifics. The preserved red to green structural colours exhibit near-field brilliancy yet are inconspicuous from afar; they most likely had cryptic functions in substrate matching. The discovery of pristine fossil examples indicates that the fossil record is likely to yield further data on the evolution of three-dimensional photonic nanostructures and their biological functions.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Plantas
/
Diamante
/
Evolución Biológica
/
Fósiles
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J R Soc Interface
Año:
2014
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Irlanda