Fig. 1. Pulsed laser ablation system. (a) Schematic; (b) photographic image

Fig. 2. Effects of melanophores and xanthophores on melanophore regeneration. (a)(e) Schematics of ablation areas; (b)(f) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the third day after ablation; (c)(g) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the twenty-fifth day after ablation; (d) statistical data of cell density

Fig. 3. Effects of xanthophores within short/middle distance on melanophore regeneration. (a)(e) Schematics of ablation areas; (b)(f) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the third day after ablation; (c)(g) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the twenty-fifth day after ablation; (d) statistical data of cell density

Fig. 4. Effects of xanthophores with long distance on melanophore regeneration. (a) Schematics of ablation areas; (b) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the third day after ablation; (c) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the twenty-fifth day after ablation; (d) statistical data of cell densities in regions I and II

Fig. 5. Direction-dependent manner of promotion of xanthophores on melanophore regeneration. (a)(e) Schematics of ablation areas; (b)(f) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the third day after ablation; (c)(g) regenerated zebrafish surface patterns on the twenty-fifth day after ablation; (d) statistical data of cell densities for blue and green rectangular regions

Fig. 6. Schematic of main interactions between zebrafish pigment cells. (a) Xanthophores inhibit melanophore regeneration within short distance (adjacent location); (b) xanthophores promote melanophore regeneration in a direction perpendicular to its stripe within middle distance (half stripe); (c) xanthophores have no effect on melanophore regeneration within long distance (beyond half width); (d) xanthophores do not promote melanophore regeneration in a direction parallel to its stripe