Turacoverdin is a unique copper uroporphyrin pigment responsible for the bright green coloration of several birds of the family Musophagidae, most notably the turaco. It is chemically related to turacin, a red pigment also found almost exclusively in turacos.[1] Turacoverdin is one of the only true green pigments found in birds, as the coloration that appears in most green feathers is due to the unique properties of blue structural coloration in combination with yellow carotenoids.[2] Turacoverdin and turacin were the first ever chemically characterized feather pigments, and turacoverdin was first isolated and described in 1882 by Dr. C.F.W. Krukenberg.[3]
- ^ Gill, Frank B. (2006), Ornithology (3rd ed.), W. H. Freeman, p. 97, ISBN 978-0-7167-4983-7
- ^ Hill, Geoffrey E. (2010), Bird Coloration, National Geographic, p. 72, ISBN 978-1-4262-0571-2
- ^ Newton, Alfred; et al. (1899), A dictionary of birds, Part 1, A. and C. Black, p. 982