Science Article Summary #6

Zimmer, C. “Evidence Builds on Color of Dinosaurs.” The New York Times. February 4, 2010. NYTimes.com [Internet]. [accessed Feb 4 2010] Available from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05science/05dino.html?ref=science

Evidence Builds on Color of Dinosaurs

Finally, scientists believe they have found evidence of the color of dinosaurs. Paleontologists have focused their attention on two dinosaurs in particular. The first, is Sinosauropteryx, who researchers say had a white-and-ginger striped tail. Another bird-like dinosaur appears to have even more colorful feathers.

Dr. Richard O. Prum, an evolutionary biologist at Yale has published a new study in Science. The focus of the research is on pigment-loaded sacs called melanosomes, which are found in fossils of bird feathers from millions of years ago. According to Prum, it is the shape and arrangement of melanosomes the produces the color in the feathers. British and Chinese scientists have also begun looking at feathered dinosaur fossils of Sinosauropteryx, where they also found melanosomes in tail bristles indicating reddish and white rings along the tail.

In addition to discovering the mechanism for color, the research also supports that birds are descendants of bipedal dinosaurs known as theropods. Chinese researchers at the Beijing Museum of Natural History and Peking University are now studying a 150 million year old species known as Anchiornis huxleyi, a chicken-sized theropod.

A study of Anchiornis’ melanosome patterns indicates that it had a crown of reddish feathers surrounded by dark grey feathers, and had reddish and black spots on its face, a grey body, and white limbs with black tips. Scientists believe the extravagant colors of Anchiornis served some sort of visual function, such as to attract mates and escape predators. Scientists expect to learn much more about the features of dinosaurs as they examine their fossils.