What causes the striking, iridescent, rainbow-like sheen on the Sunbeam Snake's scales?
Answer
The physical structure of microscopic keratin layers acting as a diffraction grating.
The visual effect is structural, not pigmentary. Each scale contains multiple microscopic layers of keratin arranged in a way that scatters light into spectral colors, functioning like a diffraction grating.
#Videos
Sunbeam Snake, The Best Pet Snake? - YouTube
Related Questions
What causes the striking, iridescent, rainbow-like sheen on the Sunbeam Snake's scales?What behavioral term describes the Sunbeam Snake's adaptation for spending most of its life underground?Which two soft-bodied prey items constitute the primary diet of the Sunbeam Snake?To which specific taxonomic family does the Sunbeam Snake belong?What characteristic led scientists to previously categorize the Sunbeam Snake alongside boas and pythons?In what time frame is the Sunbeam Snake generally active?What is the family name Xenopeltidae understood to mean?What is the primary function of the Sunbeam Snake's optical display in defense?Which statement accurately describes how the Sunbeam Snake subdues its food?What is the current conservation status assigned to the species *Xenopeltis unicolor*?