当一个研究小组让两只雄赫尔曼龟彼此对峙时，龟壳上黑斑多的那只更倾向于选择战斗（如上图）。研究小组在3月份出版的《动物行为》上报告说，为了抢走科学家给的一个苹果，那些生有大量斑块的龟并不惧怕接近一个潜在的捕食者，也就是人类。研究人员指出，颜色与攻击性可能与编码这两种特征的相同基因或基因组存在着遗传学上的联系。或者，更高含量的黑色素使得龟能够长出更黑的壳斑，从而吸收额外的阳光以保持它们的体温，这可能让它们有更多的能量来肆无忌惮地保卫自己的领地。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原文出处：
Animal Behaviour doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.01.025
Melanin-based coloration predicts aggressiveness and boldness in captive eastern Hermann’s tortoises
Alia Maflia, Kazumasa Wakamatsub, 1 and Alexandre Roulina,
Although body coloration is often used in social interactions, few studies have tested whether it is linked to a suite of behavioural traits. We examined whether among captive adult male eastern Hermann’s tortoises, Eurotestudo boettgeri, behavioural patterns covary with eumelanic coloration of the shell. Dark eumelanic males were more aggressive in male–male confrontations and bolder towards humans. These relationships were independent of body size and ambient temperature. Activity level and exploration were not significantly associated with coloration. We conclude that, at least in captivity, melanic shell coloration predicts agonistic behaviour towards conspecifics and fearfulness towards humans (i.e. boldness).
Keywords: activity; aggressiveness; behavioural syndrome; boldness; coloration; Eurotestudo boettgeri; exploration; melanin; personality; tortoise
