1
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Yang Z, Jiang B, Xu J, McNamara ME. Cellular structure of dinosaur scales reveals retention of reptile-type skin during the evolutionary transition to feathers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4063. [PMID: 38773066 PMCID: PMC11109146 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48400-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Fossil feathers have transformed our understanding of integumentary evolution in vertebrates. The evolution of feathers is associated with novel skin ultrastructures, but the fossil record of these changes is poor and thus the critical transition from scaled to feathered skin is poorly understood. Here we shed light on this issue using preserved skin in the non-avian feathered dinosaur Psittacosaurus. Skin in the non-feathered, scaled torso is three-dimensionally replicated in silica and preserves epidermal layers, corneocytes and melanosomes. The morphology of the preserved stratum corneum is consistent with an original composition rich in corneous beta proteins, rather than (alpha-) keratins as in the feathered skin of birds. The stratum corneum is relatively thin in the ventral torso compared to extant quadrupedal reptiles, reflecting a reduced demand for mechanical protection in an elevated bipedal stance. The distribution of the melanosomes in the fossil skin is consistent with melanin-based colouration in extant crocodilians. Collectively, the fossil evidence supports partitioning of skin development in Psittacosaurus: a reptile-type condition in non-feathered regions and an avian-like condition in feathered regions. Retention of reptile-type skin in non-feathered regions would have ensured essential skin functions during the early, experimental stages of feather evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiao Yang
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Baoyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering and Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiaxin Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering and Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Maria E McNamara
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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2
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Melkikh AV. Unsolved morphogenesis problems and the hidden order. Biosystems 2024; 239:105218. [PMID: 38653448 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
In this work, the morphogenesis mechanisms are considered from the complexity perspective. It is shown that both morphogenesis and the functioning of organs should be unstable in the case of short-range interaction potentials. The repeatability of forms during evolution is a strong argument for its directionality. The formation of organs during evolution can occur only in the presence of a priori information about the structure of such an organ. The focus of the discussion is not merely on constraining potential possibilities but on the concept of directed evolution itself. A morphogenesis model was constructed based on nontrivial quantum effects. These interaction effects between biologically important molecules ensure the accurate synthesis of cells, tissues, and organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Melkikh
- Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
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3
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Vinther J. Dinosaurs as ambassadors for humanity. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1269-R1271. [PMID: 38113832 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Jakob Vinther discusses the power of performance in educating children and adults about science and diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Vinther
- School of Earth Sciences and School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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4
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Slater TS, Ito S, Wakamatsu K, Zhang F, Sjövall P, Jarenmark M, Lindgren J, McNamara ME. Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5651. [PMID: 37803012 PMCID: PMC10558522 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40570-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin pigments play a critical role in physiological processes and shaping animal behaviour. Fossil melanin is a unique resource for understanding the functional evolution of melanin but the impact of fossilisation on molecular signatures for eumelanin and, especially, phaeomelanin is not fully understood. Here we present a model for the chemical taphonomy of fossil eumelanin and phaeomelanin based on thermal maturation experiments using feathers from extant birds. Our results reveal which molecular signatures are authentic signals for thermally matured eumelanin and phaeomelanin, which signatures are artefacts derived from the maturation of non-melanin molecules, and how these chemical data are impacted by sample preparation. Our model correctly predicts the molecular composition of eumelanins in diverse vertebrate fossils from the Miocene and Cretaceous and, critically, identifies direct molecular evidence for phaeomelanin in these fossils. This taphonomic framework adds to the geochemical toolbox that underpins reconstructions of melanin evolution and of melanin-based coloration in fossil vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany S Slater
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Shosuke Ito
- Institute for Melanin Chemistry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Institute for Melanin Chemistry, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Fucheng Zhang
- Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi City, Shandong, China
| | - Peter Sjövall
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Materials and Production, 501 15, Borås, Sweden
| | | | - Johan Lindgren
- Department of Geology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria E McNamara
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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5
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Roy A, Pittman M, Kaye TG, Saitta ET, Xu X. Correction statement for Recent advances in amniote palaeocolour reconstruction and a framework for future research (volume 95, issue 1, pp. 22-50). Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:386-389. [PMID: 36320106 PMCID: PMC10117546 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Roy
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China.,School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - Michael Pittman
- School of Life Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China.,Foundation for Scientific Advancement, 7023 Alhambra Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85650, USA
| | - Thomas G Kaye
- Foundation for Scientific Advancement, 7023 Alhambra Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85650, USA
| | - Evan T Saitta
- Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 E 57th St, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Xing Xu
- Chinese Academy of Sciences - Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China
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6
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Miller AE, Hogan BG, Stoddard MC. Color in motion: Generating 3-dimensional multispectral models to study dynamic visual signals in animals. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.983369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyzing color and pattern in the context of motion is a central and ongoing challenge in the quantification of animal coloration. Many animal signals are spatially and temporally variable, but traditional methods fail to capture this dynamism because they use stationary animals in fixed positions. To investigate dynamic visual displays and to understand the evolutionary forces that shape dynamic colorful signals, we require cross-disciplinary methods that combine measurements of color, pattern, 3-dimensional (3D) shape, and motion. Here, we outline a workflow for producing digital 3D models with objective color information from museum specimens with diffuse colors. The workflow combines multispectral imaging with photogrammetry to produce digital 3D models that contain calibrated ultraviolet (UV) and human-visible (VIS) color information and incorporate pattern and 3D shape. These “3D multispectral models” can subsequently be animated to incorporate both signaler and receiver movement and analyzed in silico using a variety of receiver-specific visual models. This approach—which can be flexibly integrated with other tools and methods—represents a key first step toward analyzing visual signals in motion. We describe several timely applications of this workflow and next steps for multispectral 3D photogrammetry and animation techniques.
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The exquisitely preserved integument of Psittacosaurus and the scaly skin of ceratopsian dinosaurs. Commun Biol 2022; 5:809. [PMID: 35962036 PMCID: PMC9374759 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03749-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Frankfurt specimen of the early-branching ceratopsian dinosaur Psittacosaurus is remarkable for the exquisite preservation of squamous (scaly) skin and other soft tissues that cover almost its entire body. New observations under Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence (LSF) reveal the complexity of the squamous skin of Psittacosaurus, including several unique features and details of newly detected and previously-described integumentary structures. Variations in the scaly skin are found to be strongly regionalized in Psittacosaurus. For example, feature scales consist of truncated cone-shaped scales on the shoulder, but form a longitudinal row of quadrangular scales on the tail. Re-examined through LSF, the cloaca of Psittacosaurus has a longitudinal opening, or vent; a condition that it shares only with crocodylians. This implies that the cloaca may have had crocodylian-like internal anatomy, including a single, ventrally-positioned copulatory organ. Combined with these new integumentary data, a comprehensive review of integument in ceratopsian dinosaurs reveals that scalation was generally conservative in ceratopsians and typically consisted of large subcircular-to-polygonal feature scales surrounded by a network of smaller non-overlapping polygonal basement scales. This study highlights the importance of combining exceptional specimens with modern imaging techniques, which are helping to redefine the perceived complexity of squamation in ceratopsians and other dinosaurs. Laser stimulated fluorescence imagery of Psittacosaurus reveals details about ceratopsian skin anatomy and function.
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8
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Bell PR, Hendrickx C, Pittman M, Kaye TG. Oldest preserved umbilical scar reveals dinosaurs had 'belly buttons'. BMC Biol 2022; 20:132. [PMID: 35672741 PMCID: PMC9172161 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01329-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In egg-laying amniotes, the developing embryo is tethered to a number of the extraembryonic membranes including the yolk sac and allantois that deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove metabolic waste products throughout embryonic development. Prior to, or soon after hatching, these membranes detach from the animal leaving a temporary or permanent umbilical scar (umbilicus) equivalent to the navel or ‘belly button’ in some placental mammals, including humans. Although ubiquitous in modern mammals and reptiles (including birds), at least early in their ontogeny, the umbilicus has not been identified in any pre-Cenozoic amniote. Results We report the oldest preserved umbilicus in a fossil amniote from a ~130-million-year-old early-branching ceratopsian dinosaur, Psittacosaurus. Under laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF), the umbilicus is revealed as an elongate midline structure delimited by a row of paired scales on the abdomen. The relatively late ontogenetic stage (close to sexual maturity) estimated for the individual indicates that the umbilicus was probably retained throughout life. Conclusions Unlike most extant reptiles and birds that lose this scar within days to weeks after hatching, the umbilicus of Psittacosaurus persisted at least until sexual maturity, similar to some lizards and crocodylians with which it shares the closest morphological resemblance. This discovery is the oldest record of an amniote umbilicus and the first in a non-avian dinosaur. However, given the variability of this structure in extant reptilian analogues, a persistent umbilical scar may not have been present in all non-avian dinosaurs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01329-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil R Bell
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.
| | - Christophe Hendrickx
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET-Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Michael Pittman
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK. .,Foundation for Scientific Advancement, Sierra Vista, AZ, USA.
| | - Thomas G Kaye
- Foundation for Scientific Advancement, Sierra Vista, AZ, USA
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9
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Environmental Factors Affecting Feather Taphonomy. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11050703. [PMID: 35625431 PMCID: PMC9138376 DOI: 10.3390/biology11050703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The exceptional preservation of feathers in the fossil record has led to a better understanding of both phylogeny and evolution. Here we address factors that may have contributed to the preservation of feathers in ancient organisms using experimental taphonomy. We show that the atmospheres of the Mesozoic, known to be elevated in both CO2 and with temperatures above present levels, may have contributed to the preservation of these soft tissues by facilitating rapid precipitation of hydroxy- or carbonate hydroxyapatite, thus outpacing natural degradative processes. Data also support that that microbial degradation was enhanced in elevated CO2, but mineral deposition was also enhanced, contributing to preservation by stabilizing the organic components of feathers.
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10
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Suárez‐Tovar CM, Guillermo‐Ferreira R, Cooper IA, Cezário RR, Córdoba‐Aguilar A. Dragon colors: the nature and function of Odonata (dragonfly and damselfly) coloration. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Suárez‐Tovar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - R. Guillermo‐Ferreira
- Lestes Lab Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro Uberaba Brazil
- Graduate program in Entomology University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto Brazil
| | - I. A. Cooper
- Biology Department James Madison University Harrisonburg VA USA
| | - R. R. Cezário
- Lestes Lab Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro Uberaba Brazil
- Graduate program in Entomology University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto Brazil
| | - A. Córdoba‐Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
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11
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Hendrickx C, Bell PR, Pittman M, Milner ARC, Cuesta E, O'Connor J, Loewen M, Currie PJ, Mateus O, Kaye TG, Delcourt R. Morphology and distribution of scales, dermal ossifications, and other non-feather integumentary structures in non-avialan theropod dinosaurs. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:960-1004. [PMID: 34991180 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Modern birds are typified by the presence of feathers, complex evolutionary innovations that were already widespread in the group of theropod dinosaurs (Maniraptoriformes) that include crown Aves. Squamous or scaly reptilian-like skin is, however, considered the plesiomorphic condition for theropods and dinosaurs more broadly. Here, we review the morphology and distribution of non-feathered integumentary structures in non-avialan theropods, covering squamous skin and naked skin as well as dermal ossifications. The integumentary record of non-averostran theropods is limited to tracks, which ubiquitously show a covering of tiny reticulate scales on the plantar surface of the pes. This is consistent also with younger averostran body fossils, which confirm an arthral arrangement of the digital pads. Among averostrans, squamous skin is confirmed in Ceratosauria (Carnotaurus), Allosauroidea (Allosaurus, Concavenator, Lourinhanosaurus), Compsognathidae (Juravenator), and Tyrannosauroidea (Santanaraptor, Albertosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Tarbosaurus, Tyrannosaurus), whereas dermal ossifications consisting of sagittate and mosaic osteoderms are restricted to Ceratosaurus. Naked, non-scale bearing skin is found in the contentious tetanuran Sciurumimus, ornithomimosaurians (Ornithomimus) and possibly tyrannosauroids (Santanaraptor), and also on the patagia of scansoriopterygids (Ambopteryx, Yi). Scales are surprisingly conservative among non-avialan theropods compared to some dinosaurian groups (e.g. hadrosaurids); however, the limited preservation of tegument on most specimens hinders further interrogation. Scale patterns vary among and/or within body regions in Carnotaurus, Concavenator and Juravenator, and include polarised, snake-like ventral scales on the tail of the latter two genera. Unusual but more uniformly distributed patterning also occurs in Tyrannosaurus, whereas feature scales are present only in Albertosaurus and Carnotaurus. Few theropods currently show compelling evidence for the co-occurrence of scales and feathers (e.g. Juravenator, Sinornithosaurus), although reticulate scales were probably retained on the mani and pedes of many theropods with a heavy plumage. Feathers and filamentous structures appear to have replaced widespread scaly integuments in maniraptorans. Theropod skin, and that of dinosaurs more broadly, remains a virtually untapped area of study and the appropriation of commonly used techniques in other palaeontological fields to the study of skin holds great promise for future insights into the biology, taphonomy and relationships of these extinct animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Hendrickx
- Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET-Fundación Miguel Lillo, 251 Miguel Lillo, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, 4000, Argentina
| | - Phil R Bell
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia
| | - Michael Pittman
- Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China.,Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R C Milner
- St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, 2180 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT, U.S.A
| | - Elena Cuesta
- Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, Munich, 80333, Germany
| | - Jingmai O'Connor
- Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, U.S.A
| | - Mark Loewen
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Frederick Albert Sutton Building, 115 South 1460 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, U.S.A.,Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, U.S.A
| | - Philip J Currie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Octávio Mateus
- GeoBioTec, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.,Museu da Lourinhã, 95 Rua João Luis de Moura, Lourinhã, 2530-158, Portugal
| | - Thomas G Kaye
- Foundation for Scientific Advancement, 7023 Alhambra Dr., Sierra Vista, AZ, 85650, U.S.A
| | - Rafael Delcourt
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Instituto de Geociências, Cidade Universitária, Rua Carlos Gomes, 250, Campinas, SP, 13083-855, Brazil
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12
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Barlow LA, Pittman M, Butcher A, Martill DM, Kaye TG. Laser-stimulated fluorescence reveals unseen details in fossils from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestones. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:211601. [PMID: 34950496 PMCID: PMC8692964 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF) has seen increased use in palaeontological investigations in recent years. The method uses the high flux of laser light of visible wavelengths to reveal details sometimes missed by traditional long-wave ultraviolet (UV) methods using a lamp. In this study, we compare the results of LSF with UV-A-generated fluorescence on a range of fossils from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone Konservat-Lagerstätte of Bavaria, Germany. The methodology follows previous protocols of LSF with modifications made to enhance laser beam intensity, namely keeping the laser at a constant distance from the specimen, using a camera track. Our experiments show that along with making surface details more vivid than UV-A or revealing them for the first time, LSF has the additional value of revealing shallow subsurface specimen detail. Fossil decapods from the Solnhofen Limestone reveal full body outlines, even under the matrix, along with details of segmentation within the appendages such as limbs and antennae. The results indicate that LSF can be used on invertebrate fossils along with vertebrates and may often surpass the information provided by traditional UV methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A. Barlow
- Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Michael Pittman
- Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Anthony Butcher
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Portsmouth, UK
| | - David M. Martill
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Thomas G. Kaye
- Foundation for Scientific Advancement, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650, USA
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13
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Benton MJ, Currie PJ, Xu X. A thing with feathers. Curr Biol 2021; 31:R1406-R1409. [PMID: 34752760 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.09.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Michael Benton and colleagues reminisce about the discovery of Sinosauripteryx, the first feathered dinosaur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Benton
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Philip J Currie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta 116 Street and 85 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Xing Xu
- IVPP, 142 Xizhimenwai Street, PO Box 643, Beijing 100044, China
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14
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Decoding the Evolution of Melanin in Vertebrates. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:430-443. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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15
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Abstract
The Frankfurt specimen of Psittacosaurus sp. (SMF R 4970) from the Early Cretaceous Jehol deposits of Liaoning (Figure S1) exhibits exceptional preservation of scale-clad integument1. Preservation of colour patterns and countershading allowed a detailed reconstruction of this individual's physical appearance. It was previously noted that the cloacal region was preserved2, but its detailed anatomy was incorrectly reconstructed. We show here that the fine anatomy of the vent is remarkably well preserved and can be retrodeformed to illustrate its three-dimensional nature. The vent's scale anatomy and pigmentation are distinct from adjacent body regions, and although its anatomy does not reveal much information about the ecology, or sex, of this dinosaur, it suggests possible roles for visual and olfactory signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Vinther
- Schools of Biological Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Robert Nicholls
- Paleocreations, 35 Hopps Road, Kingswood, South Gloucester BS15 9QQ, UK
| | - Diane A Kelly
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Life Science Laboratories, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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16
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Archaeopteryx feather sheaths reveal sequential center-out flight-related molting strategy. Commun Biol 2020; 3:745. [PMID: 33293660 PMCID: PMC7722847 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01467-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern flying birds molt to replace old and worn feathers that inhibit flight performance, but its origins are unclear. We address this by presenting and evaluating a ~150 million year old record of molting in a feathered dinosaur from the early bird Archaeopteryx. Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence revealed feather sheaths that are otherwise invisible under white light. These are separated by one feather and are not in numerical sequential order and are mirrored in both wings. This indicates that a sequential center-out molting strategy was already present at the origins of flight, which is used in living falcons to preserve maximum flight performance. This strategy would have been a welcome advantage for early theropod flyers that had poor flight capabilities. This discovery provides important insights into how birds refined their early flight capabilities before the appearance of the keeled sternum, pygostyle and triosseal canal. Thomas Kaye et al. use Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence and fossil evidence from the oldest known bird, Archaeopteryx, to document the oldest record of molting, demonstrating that a sophisticated molting strategy developed unexpectedly early on in the evolution of avian flight. This discovery provides important insights into the flight capabilities of the earliest birds and predates other major flight adaptations.
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17
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Tihelka E, Engel MS, Huang D, Cai C. Mimicry in Cretaceous Bugs. iScience 2020; 23:101280. [PMID: 32622262 PMCID: PMC7334408 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
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18
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Kaye TG, Pittman M. Fluorescence‐based detection of field targets using an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle system. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. Kaye
- Foundation for Scientific Advancement Sierra Vista AZ USA
- Laboratory for Space Research The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Michael Pittman
- Laboratory for Space Research The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
- Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory Division of Earth and Planetary Science The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China
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19
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Hierarchical biota-level and taxonomic controls on the chemistry of fossil melanosomes revealed using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8970. [PMID: 32488139 PMCID: PMC7265528 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fossil melanosomes, micron-sized granules rich in melanin in vivo, provide key information for investigations of the original coloration, taxonomy and internal anatomy of fossil vertebrates. Such studies rely, in part, on analysis of the inorganic chemistry of preserved melanosomes and an understanding of melanosome chemical taphonomy. The extent to which the preserved chemistry of fossil melanosomes is biased by biotic and abiotic factors is, however, unknown. Here we report the discovery of hierarchical controls on the inorganic chemistry of melanosomes from fossil vertebrates from nine biotas. The chemical data are dominated by a strong biota-level signal, indicating that the primary taphonomic control is the diagenetic history of the host sediment. This extrinsic control is superimposed by a biological, tissue-level control; tissue-specific chemical variation is most likely to survive in fossils where the inorganic chemistry of preserved melanosomes is distinct from that of the host sediment. Comparative analysis of our data for fossil and modern amphibians reveals that most fossil specimens show tissue-specific melanosome chemistries that differ from those of extant analogues, strongly suggesting alteration of original melanosome chemistry. Collectively, these findings form a predictive tool for the identification of fossil deposits with well-preserved melanosomes amenable to studies of fossil colour and anatomy.
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20
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Donohue CG, Hemmi JM, Kelley JL. Countershading enhances camouflage by reducing prey contrast. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200477. [PMID: 32396802 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A three-dimensional body shape is problematic for camouflage because overhead lighting produces a luminance gradient across the body's surface. Countershading, a form of patterning where animals are darkest on their uppermost surface, is thought to counteract this luminance gradient and enhance concealment, but the mechanisms of protection remain unclear. Surprisingly, no study has examined how countershading alters prey contrast, or investigated how the presence of a dorsoventral luminance gradient affects detection under controlled viewing conditions. It has also been suggested that the direction of the dorsoventral luminance gradient (darkest or lightest on top) may interfere with predators' abilities to resolve prey's three-dimensional shape, yet this intriguing idea has never been tested. We used live fish predators (western rainbowfish, Melanotaenia australis) and computer-generated prey images to compare the detectability of uniformly pigmented (i.e. non-countershaded) prey with that of optimally countershaded prey of varying contrasts against the background. Optimally countershaded prey were difficult for predators to detect, and the probability and speed of detection depended on prey luminance contrast with the background. In comparison, non-countershaded prey were always highly detectable, even though their average luminance closely matched the luminance of the background. Our findings suggest that uniformly pigmented three-dimensional prey are highly conspicuous to predators because overhead lighting increases luminance contrast between different body parts or between the body and the background. We found no evidence for the notion that countershading interferes with predator perception of three-dimensional form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum G Donohue
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jan M Hemmi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Kelley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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21
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Roy A, Pittman M, Saitta ET, Kaye TG, Xu X. Recent advances in amniote palaeocolour reconstruction and a framework for future research. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:22-50. [PMID: 31538399 PMCID: PMC7004074 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Preserved melanin pigments have been discovered in fossilised integumentary appendages of several amniote lineages (fishes, frogs, snakes, marine reptiles, non-avialan dinosaurs, birds, and mammals) excavated from lagerstätten across the globe. Melanisation is a leading factor in organic integument preservation in these fossils. Melanin in extant vertebrates is typically stored in rod- to sphere-shaped, lysosome-derived, membrane-bound vesicles called melanosomes. Black, dark brown, and grey colours are produced by eumelanin, and reddish-brown colours are produced by phaeomelanin. Specific morphotypes and nanostructural arrangements of melanosomes and their relation to the keratin matrix in integumentary appendages create the so-called 'structural colours'. Reconstruction of colour patterns in ancient animals has opened an exciting new avenue for studying their life, behaviour and ecology. Modern relationships between the shape, arrangement, and size of avian melanosomes, melanin chemistry, and feather colour have been applied to reconstruct the hues and colour patterns of isolated feathers and plumages of the dinosaurs Anchiornis, Sinosauropteryx, and Microraptor in seminal papers that initiated the field of palaeocolour reconstruction. Since then, further research has identified countershading camouflage patterns, and informed subsequent predictions on the ecology and behaviour of these extinct animals. However, palaeocolour reconstruction remains a nascent field, and current approaches have considerable potential for further refinement, standardisation, and expansion. This includes detailed study of non-melanic pigments that might be preserved in fossilised integuments. A common issue among existing palaeocolour studies is the lack of contextualisation of different lines of evidence and the wide variety of techniques currently employed. To that end, this review focused on fossil amniotes: (i) produces an overarching framework that appropriately reconstructs palaeocolour by accounting for the chemical signatures of various pigments, morphology and local arrangement of pigment-bearing vesicles, pigment concentration, macroscopic colour patterns, and taphonomy; (ii) provides background context for the evolution of colour-producing mechanisms; and (iii) encourages future efforts in palaeocolour reconstructions particularly of less-studied groups such as non-dinosaur archosaurs and non-archosaur amniotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arindam Roy
- Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory, Department of Earth SciencesThe University of Hong KongPokfulamHong Kong SARChina
| | - Michael Pittman
- Vertebrate Palaeontology Laboratory, Department of Earth SciencesThe University of Hong KongPokfulamHong Kong SARChina
| | - Evan T. Saitta
- Integrative Research Center, Section of Earth SciencesField Museum of Natural History1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, ChicagoIL60605U.S.A.
| | - Thomas G. Kaye
- Foundation for Scientific Advancement7023 Alhambra Drive, Sierra VistaAZ85650U.S.A.
| | - Xing Xu
- Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoanthropologyChinese Academy of Sciences142 Xizhimenwai Street.Beijing100044China
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22
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Slater TS, McNamara ME, Orr PJ, Foley TB, Ito S, Wakamatsu K. Taphonomic experiments resolve controls on the preservation of melanosomes and keratinous tissues in feathers. PALAEONTOLOGY 2020; 63:103-115. [PMID: 32025055 PMCID: PMC6988486 DOI: 10.1111/pala.12445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fossils are a key source of data on the evolution of feather structure and function through deep time, but their ability to resolve macroevolutionary questions is compromised by an incomplete understanding of their taphonomy. Critically, the relative preservation potential of two key feather components, melanosomes and keratinous tissue, is not fully resolved. Recent studies suggesting that melanosomes are preferentially preserved conflict with observations that melanosomes preserve in fossil feathers as external moulds in an organic matrix. To date, there is no model to explain the latter mode of melanosome preservation. We addressed these issues by degrading feathers in systematic taphonomic experiments incorporating decay, maturation and oxidation in isolation and combination. Our results reveal that the production of mouldic melanosomes requires interactions with an oxidant and is most likely to occur prior to substantial maturation. This constrains the taphonomic conditions under which melanosomes are likely to be fossilized. Critically, our experiments also confirm that keratinous feather structures have a higher preservation potential than melanosomes under a range of diagenetic conditions, supporting hitherto controversial hypotheses that fossil feathers can retain degraded keratinous structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany S. Slater
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental SciencesUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Maria E. McNamara
- School of Biological, Earth & Environmental SciencesUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Patrick J. Orr
- UCDSchool of Earth SciencesUniversity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Tara B. Foley
- Department of Anatomy & NeuroscienceUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Shosuke Ito
- Department of ChemistryFujita Health University School of Health SciencesToyoakeAichiJapan
| | - Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Department of ChemistryFujita Health University School of Health SciencesToyoakeAichiJapan
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23
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Abstract
Introduction: Despite an extensive published literature, skepticism over the claim of original biochemicals including proteins preserved in the fossil record persists and the issue remains controversial. Workers using many different techniques including mass spectrometry, X-ray, electron microscopy and optical spectroscopic techniques, have attempted to verify proteinaceous or other biochemicals that appear endogenous to fossils found throughout the geologic column.Areas covered: This paper presents a review of the relevant literature published over the last 50 years. A comparative survey of the reported techniques used is also given.Expert opinion: Morphological and molecular investigations show that original biochemistry is geologically extensive, geographically global, and taxonomically wide-ranging. The survival of endogenous organics in fossils remains the subject of widespread and increasing research investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Thomas
- Mass Spectrometry Group, Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen Taylor
- Mass Spectrometry Group, Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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24
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Pinheiro FL, Prado G, Ito S, Simon JD, Wakamatsu K, Anelli LE, Andrade JAF, Glass K. Chemical characterization of pterosaur melanin challenges color inferences in extinct animals. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15947. [PMID: 31685890 PMCID: PMC6828676 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52318-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanosomes (melanin-bearing organelles) are common in the fossil record occurring as dense packs of globular microbodies. The organic component comprising the melanosome, melanin, is often preserved in fossils, allowing identification of the chemical nature of the constituent pigment. In present-day vertebrates, melanosome morphology correlates with their pigment content in selected melanin-containing structures, and this interdependency is employed in the color reconstruction of extinct animals. The lack of analyses integrating the morphology of fossil melanosomes with the chemical identification of pigments, however, makes these inferences tentative. Here, we chemically characterize the melanin content of the soft tissue headcrest of the pterosaur Tupandactylus imperator by alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results demonstrate the unequivocal presence of eumelanin in T. imperator headcrest. Scanning electron microscopy followed by statistical analyses, however, reveal that preserved melanosomes containing eumelanin are undistinguishable to pheomelanin-bearing organelles of extant vertebrates. Based on these new findings, straightforward color inferences based on melanosome morphology may not be valid for all fossil vertebrates, and color reconstructions based on ultrastructure alone should be regarded with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe L Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Paleobiologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, 97300-162, Brazil.
| | - Gustavo Prado
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Shosuke Ito
- Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | | | - Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Luiz E Anelli
- Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José A F Andrade
- Centro de Pesquisas Paleontológicas da Chapada do Araripe, Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral, 63100-440, Crato, Brazil
| | - Keely Glass
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
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25
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Tissue-specific geometry and chemistry of modern and fossilized melanosomes reveal internal anatomy of extinct vertebrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:17880-17889. [PMID: 31427524 PMCID: PMC6731645 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820285116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent reports of nonintegumentary melanosomes in fossils hint at functions for melanin beyond color production, but the biology and evolution of internal melanins are poorly understood. Our results show that internal melanosomes are widespread in diverse fossil and modern vertebrates and have tissue-specific geometries and metal chemistries. Tissue-specific chemical signatures can persist in fossils despite some diagenetic overprint, allowing the reconstruction of internal soft-tissue anatomy in fossil vertebrates, and suggest that links between melanin and metal regulation have deep evolutionary origins in vertebrates. Recent discoveries of nonintegumentary melanosomes in extant and fossil amphibians offer potential insights into the physiological functions of melanin not directly related to color production, but the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history of these internal melanosomes has not been characterized systematically. Here, we present a holistic method to discriminate among melanized tissues by analyzing the anatomical distribution, morphology, and chemistry of melanosomes in various tissues in a phylogenetically broad sample of extant and fossil vertebrates. Our results show that internal melanosomes in all extant vertebrates analyzed have tissue-specific geometries and elemental signatures. Similar distinct populations of preserved melanosomes in phylogenetically diverse vertebrate fossils often map onto specific anatomical features. This approach also reveals the presence of various melanosome-rich internal tissues in fossils, providing a mechanism for the interpretation of the internal anatomy of ancient vertebrates. Collectively, these data indicate that vertebrate melanins share fundamental physiological roles in homeostasis via the scavenging and sequestering of metals and suggest that intimate links between melanin and metal metabolism in vertebrates have deep evolutionary origins.
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26
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Napoli JG, Hunt T, Erickson GM, Norell MA. Psittacosaurus amitabha, a New Species of Ceratopsian Dinosaur from the Ondai Sayr Locality, Central Mongolia. AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2019. [DOI: 10.1206/3932.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James G. Napoli
- Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History
| | - Tyler Hunt
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University
| | | | - Mark A. Norell
- Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History
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27
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Brejcha J, Bataller JV, Bosáková Z, Geryk J, Havlíková M, Kleisner K, Maršík P, Font E. Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: the case of deirocheline turtles. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190319. [PMID: 31417734 PMCID: PMC6689573 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Animal body coloration is a complex trait resulting from the interplay of multiple mechanisms. While many studies address the functions of animal coloration, the mechanisms of colour production still remain unknown in most taxa. Here we compare reflectance spectra, cellular, ultra- and nano-structure of colour-producing elements, and pigment types in two freshwater turtles with contrasting courtship behaviour, Trachemys scripta and Pseudemys concinna. The two species differ in the distribution of pigment cell-types and in pigment diversity. We found xanthophores, melanocytes, abundant iridophores and dermal collagen fibres in stripes of both species. The yellow chin and forelimb stripes of both P. concinna and T. scripta contain xanthophores and iridophores, but the post-orbital regions of the two species differ in cell-type distribution. The yellow post-orbital region of P. concinna contains both xanthophores and iridophores, while T. scripta has only xanthophores in the yellow-red postorbital/zygomatic regions. Moreover, in both species, the xanthophores colouring the yellow-red skin contain carotenoids, pterins and riboflavin, but T. scripta has a higher diversity of pigments than P. concinna. Trachemys s. elegans is sexually dichromatic. Differences in the distribution of pigment cell types across body regions in the two species may be related to visual signalling but do not match predictions based on courtship position. Our results demonstrate that archelosaurs share some colour production mechanisms with amphibians and lepidosaurs (i.e. vertical layering/stacking of different pigment cell types and interplay of carotenoids and pterins), but also employ novel mechanisms (i.e. nano-organization of dermal collagen) shared with mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindřich Brejcha
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, National Museum, Václavské nám. 68, Prague 1, 110 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, Prague 8, 18223, Czech Republic
| | - José Vicente Bataller
- Centro de Conservación de Especies Dulceacuícolas de la Comunidad Valenciana. VAERSA-Generalitat Valenciana, El Palmar, València, 46012, Spain
| | - Zuzana Bosáková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, Prague 2, 128 43, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Geryk
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Havlíková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, Prague 2, 128 43, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Kleisner
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Maršík
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Enrique Font
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, C/ Catedrátic José Beltrán Martinez 2, Paterna, València, 46980, Spain
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28
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Babarović F, Puttick MN, Zaher M, Learmonth E, Gallimore EJ, Smithwick FM, Mayr G, Vinther J. Characterization of melanosomes involved in the production of non-iridescent structural feather colours and their detection in the fossil record. J R Soc Interface 2019; 16:20180921. [PMID: 31238836 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-iridescent structural colour in avian feathers is produced by coherent light scattering through quasi-ordered nanocavities in the keratin cortex of the barbs. To absorb unscattered light, melanosomes form a basal layer underneath the nanocavities. It has been shown that throughout Aves, melanosome morphology reflects broad categories of melanin-based coloration, as well as iridescence, allowing identification of palaeocolours in exceptionally preserved fossils. However, no studies have yet investigated the morphology of melanosomes in non-iridescent structural colour. Here, we analyse a wide sample of melanosomes from feathers that express non-iridescent structural colour from a phylogenetically broad range of extant avians to describe their morphology and compare them with other avian melanosome categories. We find that investigated melanosomes are typically wide (approx. 300 nm) and long (approx. 1400 nm), distinct from melanosomes found in black, brown and iridescent feathers, but overlapping significantly with melanosomes from grey feathers. This may suggest a developmental, and perhaps evolutionary, relationship between grey coloration and non-iridescent structural colours. We show that through analyses of fossil melanosomes, melanosomes indicative of non-iridescent structural colour can be predicted in an Eocene stem group roller ( Eocoracias: Coraciiformes) and with phylogenetic comparative methods the likely hue can be surmised. The overlap between melanosomes from grey and non-iridescent structurally coloured feathers complicates their distinction in fossil samples where keratin does not preserve. However, the abundance of grey coloration relative to non-iridescent structural coloration makes the former a more likely occurrence except in phylogenetically bracketed specimens like the specimen of Eocoracias studied here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frane Babarović
- 1 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield , Sheffield S10 2TN , UK.,3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK
| | - Mark N Puttick
- 2 Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY , UK
| | - Marta Zaher
- 3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK
| | - Elizabeth Learmonth
- 4 School of Biological Sciences , Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH , UK
| | - Emily-Jane Gallimore
- 4 School of Biological Sciences , Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH , UK
| | - Fiann M Smithwick
- 3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK
| | - Gerald Mayr
- 5 Senckenberg Research Institute, Section of Ornithology , Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Jakob Vinther
- 3 School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol , Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ , UK.,4 School of Biological Sciences , Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH , UK
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29
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Benton MJ, Dhouailly D, Jiang B, McNamara M. The Early Origin of Feathers. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:856-869. [PMID: 31164250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Feathers have long been regarded as the innovation that drove the success of birds. However, feathers have been reported from close dinosaurian relatives of birds, and now from ornithischian dinosaurs and pterosaurs, the cousins of dinosaurs. Incomplete preservation makes these reports controversial. If true, these findings shift the origin of feathers back 80 million years before the origin of birds. Gene regulatory networks show the deep homology of scales, feathers, and hairs. Hair and feathers likely evolved in the Early Triassic ancestors of mammals and birds, at a time when synapsids and archosaurs show independent evidence of higher metabolic rates (erect gait and endothermy), as part of a major resetting of terrestrial ecosystems following the devastating end-Permian mass extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Baoyu Jiang
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Maria McNamara
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Cork, Cork, Ireland
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- I. C. Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
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31
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Li Q, Clarke JA, Gao KQ, Peteya JA, Shawkey MD. Elaborate plumage patterning in a Cretaceous bird. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5831. [PMID: 30405969 PMCID: PMC6216952 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Integumentary patterns and colors can differentiate species, sexes, and life changes and can inform on habitat and ecology. However, they are rarely preserved in the fossil record. Here, we report on an extremely well-preserved specimen of the Cretaceous bird Confuciusornis with unprecedented complexity, including small spots on the wings, crest, and throat. Morphological and chemical evidence suggest that these patterns are produced by melanin, but unusual preservation prevents assignment of specific colors. Based on comparisons with extant birds, these patterns were likely used for camouflage, although other functions including sexual signaling cannot be ruled out. Our data show that even more elaborate plumage patterns than the spangles in Anchiornis and stripes in Sinosauropteryx were present at a relatively early stage of avian evolution, showing the significance of coloration and patterning to feather evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanguo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China
| | - Julia A Clarke
- Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ke-Qin Gao
- School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Matthew D Shawkey
- Evolution and Optics of Nanostructures Group, Department of Biology, University of Ghent, Belgium
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32
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Negro JJ, Finlayson C, Galván I. Melanins in Fossil Animals: Is It Possible to Infer Life History Traits from the Coloration of Extinct Species? Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020230. [PMID: 29360744 PMCID: PMC5855542 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Paleo-colour scientists have recently made the transition from describing melanin-based colouration in fossil specimens to inferring life-history traits of the species involved. Two such cases correspond to counter-shaded dinosaurs: dark-coloured due to melanins dorsally, and light-coloured ventrally. We believe that colour reconstruction of fossils based on the shape of preserved microstructures—the majority of paleo-colour studies involve melanin granules—is not without risks. In addition, animals with contrasting dorso-ventral colouration may be under different selection pressures beyond the need for camouflage, including, for instance, visual communication or ultraviolet (UV) protection. Melanin production is costly, and animals may invest less in areas of the integument where pigments are less needed. In addition, melanocytes exposed to UV radiation produce more melanin than unexposed melanocytes. Pigment economization may thus explain the colour pattern of some counter-shaded animals, including extinct species. Even in well-studied extant species, their diversity of hues and patterns is far from being understood; inferring colours and their functions in species only known from one or few specimens from the fossil record should be exerted with special prudence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Negro
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Clive Finlayson
- The Gibraltar Museum, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, UK.
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Scarborough, ON M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | - Ismael Galván
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
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Parry LA, Smithwick F, Nordén KK, Saitta ET, Lozano-Fernandez J, Tanner AR, Caron JB, Edgecombe GD, Briggs DEG, Vinther J. Soft-Bodied Fossils Are Not Simply Rotten Carcasses - Toward a Holistic Understanding of Exceptional Fossil Preservation. Bioessays 2017; 40. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luke A. Parry
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building; Queen's Road Bristol BS8 1RJ UK
- Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON M5S 2C6 Canada
- Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
| | - Fiann Smithwick
- Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON M5S 2C6 Canada
| | - Klara K. Nordén
- Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON M5S 2C6 Canada
| | - Evan T. Saitta
- Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON M5S 2C6 Canada
| | - Jesus Lozano-Fernandez
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol; Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Alastair R. Tanner
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol; Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
| | - Jean-Bernard Caron
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building; Queen's Road Bristol BS8 1RJ UK
| | - Gregory D. Edgecombe
- Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
| | - Derek E. G. Briggs
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University; 210 Whitney Avenue New Haven CT 06511 USA
- Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History; 170 Whitney Avenue New Haven CT 06520 USA
- Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Earth Sciences, University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S 3B2 Canada
| | - Jakob Vinther
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building; Queen's Road Bristol BS8 1RJ UK
- Royal Ontario Museum; 100 Queen's Park Toronto ON M5S 2C6 Canada
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol; Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
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Pickrell J. Camouflage plumage patterns offer clue to dinosaur's habitat. Nature 2017; 551:17. [PMID: 29094706 DOI: 10.1038/nature.2017.22891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Smithwick FM, Nicholls R, Cuthill IC, Vinther J. Countershading and Stripes in the Theropod Dinosaur Sinosauropteryx Reveal Heterogeneous Habitats in the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Curr Biol 2017; 27:3337-3343.e2. [PMID: 29107548 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Countershading is common across a variety of lineages and ecological time [1-4]. A dark dorsum and lighter ventrum helps to mask the three-dimensional shape of the body by reducing self-shadowing and decreasing conspicuousness, thus helping to avoid detection by predators and prey [1, 2, 4, 5]. The optimal countershading pattern is dictated by the lighting environment, which is in turn dependent upon habitat [1, 3, 5, 6]. With the discovery of fossil melanin [7, 8], it is possible to infer original color patterns from fossils, including countershading [3, 9, 10]. Applying these principles, we describe the pattern of countershading in the diminutive theropod dinosaur Sinosauropteryx from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of Liaoning, China. From reconstructions based on exceptional fossils, the color pattern is compared to predicted optimal countershading transitions based on 3D reconstructions of the animal's abdomen, imaged in different lighting environments. Reconstructed patterns match well with those predicted for animals living in open habitats. Jehol is presumed to have been a predominantly closed forested environment [3, 11, 12], but our results indicate a more heterogeneous range of habitats. Sinosauropteryx is also shown to exhibit a "bandit mask," a common pattern in many living vertebrates, particularly birds, that serves multiple functions including camouflage [13-18]. Sinosauropteryx therefore shows multiple color pattern features likely related to the habitat in which it lived. Our results show how reconstructing the color of extinct animals can inform on their ecologies beyond what may be obvious from skeletal remains alone. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiann M Smithwick
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
| | - Robert Nicholls
- Palaeocreations, 35 Hopps Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9QQ, UK
| | - Innes C Cuthill
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Jakob Vinther
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
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Cuthill IC, Allen WL, Arbuckle K, Caspers B, Chaplin G, Hauber ME, Hill GE, Jablonski NG, Jiggins CD, Kelber A, Mappes J, Marshall J, Merrill R, Osorio D, Prum R, Roberts NW, Roulin A, Rowland HM, Sherratt TN, Skelhorn J, Speed MP, Stevens M, Stoddard MC, Stuart-Fox D, Talas L, Tibbetts E, Caro T. The biology of color. Science 2017; 357:357/6350/eaan0221. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aan0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 353] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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An Exceptionally Preserved Three-Dimensional Armored Dinosaur Reveals Insights into Coloration and Cretaceous Predator-Prey Dynamics. Curr Biol 2017; 27:2514-2521.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L. Brusatte
- School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK
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Molecular evidence of keratin and melanosomes in feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird Eoconfuciusornis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E7900-E7907. [PMID: 27872291 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1617168113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbodies associated with feathers of both nonavian dinosaurs and early birds were first identified as bacteria but have been reinterpreted as melanosomes. Whereas melanosomes in modern feathers are always surrounded by and embedded in keratin, melanosomes embedded in keratin in fossils has not been demonstrated. Here we provide multiple independent molecular analyses of both microbodies and the associated matrix recovered from feathers of a new specimen of the basal bird Eoconfuciusornis from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. Our work represents the oldest ultrastructural and immunological recognition of avian beta-keratin from an Early Cretaceous (∼130-Ma) bird. We apply immunogold to identify protein epitopes at high resolution, by localizing antibody-antigen complexes to specific fossil ultrastructures. Retention of original keratinous proteins in the matrix surrounding electron-opaque microbodies supports their assignment as melanosomes and adds to the criteria employable to distinguish melanosomes from microbial bodies. Our work sheds new light on molecular preservation within normally labile tissues preserved in fossils.
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Abstract
Countershading, the widespread tendency of animals to be darker on the side that receives strongest illumination, has classically been explained as an adaptation for camouflage: obliterating cues to 3D shape and enhancing background matching. However, there have only been two quantitative tests of whether the patterns observed in different species match the optimal shading to obliterate 3D cues, and no tests of whether optimal countershading actually improves concealment or survival. We use a mathematical model of the light field to predict the optimal countershading for concealment that is specific to the light environment and then test this prediction with correspondingly patterned model "caterpillars" exposed to avian predation in the field. We show that the optimal countershading is strongly illumination-dependent. A relatively sharp transition in surface patterning from dark to light is only optimal under direct solar illumination; if there is diffuse illumination from cloudy skies or shade, the pattern provides no advantage over homogeneous background-matching coloration. Conversely, a smoother gradation between dark and light is optimal under cloudy skies or shade. The demonstration of these illumination-dependent effects of different countershading patterns on predation risk strongly supports the comparative evidence showing that the type of countershading varies with light environment.
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