Glam Radar: Iridescence in the Wild

Jewel beetles

What jewel beetles lack in size, they make up for in dazzling colour. Their shiny, metallic looking bodies gleam like gemstones on plants. For centuries, the wings of these tiny creatures were used as decorations in clothing and accessories because of their eye-catching colours.

A jewel beetle’s outer shell is made up of several layers of chitin. When light hits these layers, it produces glittering hues of green, purple, and neon shades. Jewel beetles do not have any colour pigments on their shells, but the arrangement of molecules on their outer layer reflects light in a phenomenon known as structural colouring, giving them an iridescence.

Peacock

The shimmery blue-green hues of a peacock’s feathers have inspired many a designer and tattoo artist. In India, we’re lucky to frequently spot these flamboyant birds or stumble upon their fallen feathers. The next time you admire a male peacock dancing in the rain, notice the dazzling display of colours, from the iridescent blue of his neck to the ever-changing purples and greens of his tail feathers.

The eye-spots on a peacock’s feathers contain pigments as well as photonic crystals. When light hits these eye-spots from various angles, the feathers reflect the different wavelengths. The reflections give the appearance of shimmering, ever-changing blue-green hues, resulting in the beautiful iridescence we associate with that makes peacock feathers so special.

Khaire’s black shieldtail snake

As recently as 2016, a new species of non-venomous snake was discovered in the Western Ghats and named after herpetologist Neelam Kumar Khaire. As the beautiful snake slithers and burrows into the soil, its smooth glassy skin glitters like the rainbow.

Endemic to the Western Ghats, Khaire’s shieldtail has glossy black scales on a white body and is often described as ‘highly iridescent’. As it moves, its scales appear to glimmer in hues of red, green, and blue. Truly a photographers dream.