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Nov 24th, 2016: First Turkey
Not really a turkey, the turkey's oldest known ancestor.
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Fossils of ancient bird, Eoconfuciusornis, revealed microscopic evidence of pigment within its feathers, which were preserved for 130 million years. |
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Scientists studied Eoconfuciusornis beta-keratin buried deep within the animal’s fossilized feathers. They probed the keratin structures to find small, dark grains called melanosomes. These are the little specks within animal cells that give skin and other tissues its color. Although melanosomes had been discovered in fossilized creatures before, it was previously too difficult to tell if the dark granules belonged to the animal itself or ancient microorganisms preserved alongside it. |
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The melanosomes examined with the new technique lent support to the idea that the early Confucius bird’s body was brownish or dark in color. What’s more, the study hinted at future discoveries embedded within additional ancient skins and feathers. As Pan said to the South China Morning Post, “We can use the same technology to study other animals, such as dinosaurs.” |
Snakeadelic Thursday Nov 24 07:49 AM
Similar study on a fossil of a juvenile proto-bird has found structural detailing that indicates some of them were shiny, too! Iridescence in birds is not caused by pigments alone; it needs certain feather structures and now we have good enough tools, processes, and fossils to find it.
I'm pretty excited about the triple fossil too! A snake, with a lizard still in its belly, and a bug (beetle I think) in the lizard's gut. And the fossil chunk of hadrosaur skull with actual fossilized circulatory system bits AND brain tissue! And of course the snake from a few years back that was apparently killed by a landslide while raiding a dino nest for hatchlings.
If I actually kept up to date on fossils, I'd probably be even more annoying.
Carruthers Thursday Nov 24 01:42 PM
First Turkey? I thought that was going to be a post in the forthcoming Trump administration.
Perhaps the bird given a Presidential pardon at Thanksgiving might apply for the job.
infinite monkey Thursday Nov 24 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Carruthers
First Turkey? I thought that was going to be a post in the forthcoming Trump administration.
Perhaps the bird given a Presidential pardon at Thanksgiving might apply for the job. |
footfootfoot Thursday Nov 24 05:57 PM
Somewhat related: how a butterfly gets the color on its wing. In theory, you could build a similar structure from 2x4s and at a distance it would have the same color.
skip to about 5 minutes for a description of the structure itself.
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