Plumage color patterns of an extinct dinosaur.

Quanguo Li, Ke-Qin Gao, Jakob Vinther, Matthew D Shawkey, Julia A Clarke, Liliana D'Alba, Qingjin Meng, Derek E G Briggs, Richard O Prum

March 2010

Synopsis of Social media discussions

Comments frequently cite the groundbreaking fossil discoveries and their relevance, such as the mention of the Yanliao Biota's exceptional feather preservation and the importance of Anchiornis. The tone combines admiration with curiosity, emphasizing the study's role in advancing paleontology and dinosaur behavioral understanding.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions express support or positive acknowledgment of the research, highlighting its significance.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

Participants show high enthusiasm, often referencing the detailed findings and importance of feather preservation.

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

Comments include reactions to fossil preservation techniques and implications for understanding dinosaur behavior, indicating active interest.

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

The discussions suggest this research influences the field, with mentions of its revolutionary insights and potential to reshape ideas about dinosaur evolution.

Social Mentions

YouTube

3 Videos

Facebook

3 Posts

Twitter

16 Posts

Blogs

21 Articles

News

54 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

9,008

Total Likes

274

Extended Reach

43,677

Social Features

97

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

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  • Hans Elysia chlorotica
    @ElysiaHans (Twitter)

    @LefrancBruno2 @SamSoul213 À la bonne heure. https://t.co/c6OZgZ6l6w https://t.co/4TYr5hQLoE https://t.co/sZV3qrda0C https://t.co/dwzQIHONJ8 https://t.co/HPzD0YSWkj https://t.co/25P6Yt3ySB N'hésite pas utiliser Sci Hub pour accéder gratuitement aux études dont l'accès est payant, les chercheurs le
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    July 7, 2025

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  • Matthew Shawkey
    @mdshawkey (Twitter)

    From (respectively) https://t.co/0tVnGA28mK https://t.co/aj1J2h81bA https://t.co/DBMJvaOLoB
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    April 13, 2024

  • Dr. Amelia R. Zietlow
    @TyrantLzrdQueen (Twitter)

    @SebastianBArti1 https://t.co/9eGurIFDHB
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    October 25, 2023

    2

  • Ronnie King
    @kingrc1881 (Twitter)

    RT @FossilBonanza: The Yanliao Biota yields fossils with feathers preserved. This remarkable preservation allows us to reconstruct their co…
    view full post

    July 14, 2022

    6

  • Kris Cherita
    @CheritaKris (Twitter)

    RT @FossilBonanza: The Yanliao Biota yields fossils with feathers preserved. This remarkable preservation allows us to reconstruct their co…
    view full post

    July 14, 2022

    6

  • Damien Verde
    @Damien_Verde (Twitter)

    RT @FossilBonanza: The Yanliao Biota yields fossils with feathers preserved. This remarkable preservation allows us to reconstruct their co…
    view full post

    July 14, 2022

    6


  • @FrecklesXX20 (Twitter)

    RT @FossilBonanza: The Yanliao Biota yields fossils with feathers preserved. This remarkable preservation allows us to reconstruct their co…
    view full post

    July 14, 2022

    6

  • Nyx, a gravatinha da física
    @Aksala_caramelo (Twitter)

    RT @FossilBonanza: The Yanliao Biota yields fossils with feathers preserved. This remarkable preservation allows us to reconstruct their co…
    view full post

    July 14, 2022

    6

  • Fossil Bonanza
    @FossilBonanza (Twitter)

    The Yanliao Biota yields fossils with feathers preserved. This remarkable preservation allows us to reconstruct their color like this dinosaur, Anchiornis. https://t.co/gqzmUmRstf #YanliaoWeek #paleontology https://t.co/CsujksP7MO
    view full post

    July 14, 2022

    25

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  • Phytosauria International
    @victorlr15 (Twitter)

    @ReisboyPhD @Dino_Busters @El_Pakozoico Pues el que fue más revolucionario y comenzó todo fue con Anchiornis "Li, Q., Gao, K. Q., Vinther, J., Shawkey, M. D., Clarke, J. A., D’alba, L., ... & Prum, R. O. (2010). Plumage color patterns of an extinct dinosaur. science, 327(5971), 1369-1372."
    view full post

    April 22, 2021

  • Frank Vehafric
    @fvehafric (Twitter)

    RT @EJR_Paleo: Anchiornis along with the paper “Plumage Color Patterns of an Extinct Dinosaur” at the Beijing Museum of Natural History #Fo…
    view full post

    July 7, 2019

    7

  • Brendan Takahashi (恐竜ブレンダン)
    @DinosaurBrendan (Twitter)

    RT @EJR_Paleo: Anchiornis along with the paper “Plumage Color Patterns of an Extinct Dinosaur” at the Beijing Museum of Natural History #Fo…
    view full post

    July 5, 2019

    7

  • 荒れクトロ
    @gracilis_delta (Twitter)

    RT @EJR_Paleo: Anchiornis along with the paper “Plumage Color Patterns of an Extinct Dinosaur” at the Beijing Museum of Natural History #Fo…
    view full post

    July 4, 2019

    7

  • ｶﾞｲｽ
    @shitake_reverse (Twitter)

    RT @EJR_Paleo: Anchiornis along with the paper “Plumage Color Patterns of an Extinct Dinosaur” at the Beijing Museum of Natural History #Fo…
    view full post

    July 4, 2019

    7

  • Gill @ Chilling in My Favorite Void
    @eeveeEnthusiast (Twitter)

    RT @EJR_Paleo: Anchiornis along with the paper “Plumage Color Patterns of an Extinct Dinosaur” at the Beijing Museum of Natural History #Fo…
    view full post

    July 4, 2019

    7

  • Evan Johnson-Ransom
    @EJR_Paleo_MSc (Twitter)

    Anchiornis along with the paper “Plumage Color Patterns of an Extinct Dinosaur” at the Beijing Museum of Natural History #FossilFriday https://t.co/ui5DAdPyRf
    view full post

    July 4, 2019

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Abstract Synopsis

  • The study uses fossilized melanosomes to reconstruct the color patterns of a Jurassic dinosaur, revealing that its body was gray and dark, with distinctive rufous and black speckles on the face and crown, and white feathers with black spots on the limbs.
  • By comparing melanosome shapes and densities, the researchers suggest that melanin-based pigmentation evolved alongside certain feather structures, potentially before the development of active flight in ancient birds and their relatives.
  • The findings imply that feathers may have originally served functions such as sexual display or communication, not just flight, highlighting their possible role in dinosaur behavior and evolution.]