Nov 24th, 2016: First Turkey

[xoxoxoBruce]

Not really a turkey, the turkey's oldest known ancestor.

Fossils of ancient bird, Eoconfuciusornis, revealed microscopic evidence of pigment
within its feathers, which were preserved for 130 million years.

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.

This technique brings the promise of discovering more colors.

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.”

Link