microrobert
03-11-2012, 06:02 PM
Dinosaur's Flashy Feathers Revealed
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/497/cache/fossil-dinosaur-iridescent-feathers-illustration_49799_600x450.jpg
According to a new study, Microraptors—four-winged, feathered dinosaurs that lived 125 million years ago—sported Earth's earliest known iridescence, as pictured in this illustration.
Recent research suggests the pigeon-size Microraptor's feathers glimmered black and blue in sunlight, like feathers of modern crows (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/american-crow/) or grackles (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/common-grackle).
The findings are the earliest evidence of iridescence in any creature-bird or dinosaur, said study leader Julia Clarke (http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/researcher/julia_clarke), a paleontologist at the University of Texas at Austin.
Pictures: Dinosaur's Flashy Feathers Revealed (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/pictures/120309-microraptors-dinosaurs-iridescent-feathers-science-nature/)
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/497/cache/fossil-dinosaur-iridescent-feathers-illustration_49799_600x450.jpg
According to a new study, Microraptors—four-winged, feathered dinosaurs that lived 125 million years ago—sported Earth's earliest known iridescence, as pictured in this illustration.
Recent research suggests the pigeon-size Microraptor's feathers glimmered black and blue in sunlight, like feathers of modern crows (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/american-crow/) or grackles (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/common-grackle).
The findings are the earliest evidence of iridescence in any creature-bird or dinosaur, said study leader Julia Clarke (http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/researcher/julia_clarke), a paleontologist at the University of Texas at Austin.
Pictures: Dinosaur's Flashy Feathers Revealed (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/pictures/120309-microraptors-dinosaurs-iridescent-feathers-science-nature/)