Which term is a substance that gives color to skin, hair, or feathers?

Which term is a substance that gives color to skin, hair, or feathers?

• A. Chromatophore
• B. Venom
• C. Pigment
• D. Fang

Answer: (C)

Color in skin, hair, or feathers comes from pigments—molecules that absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others, which is what we perceive as color. Among the options, pigment is the substance responsible for that color. Chromatophores are pigment-containing cells that can change color by moving pigment around, so they relate to color production but are not the substance itself. Venom and a fang have nothing to do with coloration. In humans, melanin is a common pigment that largely determines skin and hair color, with other pigments like carotenoids also contributing in some tissues. So the pigment is the correct term.

Color in skin, hair, or feathers comes from pigments—molecules that absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others, which is what we perceive as color. Among the options, pigment is the substance responsible for that color. Chromatophores are pigment-containing cells that can change color by moving pigment around, so they relate to color production but are not the substance itself. Venom and a fang have nothing to do with coloration. In humans, melanin is a common pigment that largely determines skin and hair color, with other pigments like carotenoids also contributing in some tissues. So the pigment is the correct term.