PubHawk
March 2010 PMID 20133521

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

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Mentions

97
Peak: 6 in Jul 2019
across 5 sources since Jul 2019

Extended reach

43,677
potential audience

Total likes

274

Video views

9,008

Mentions per month

Jul 2019 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

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.

AgreementModerate agreement

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

InterestHigh interest

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

EngagementModerate engagement

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

ImpactModerate impact

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

Abstract in brief

  • 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.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Fossil Bonanza
@FossilBonanza · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 25 likes · 6 shares · 7,198 followers View post →
Evan Johnson-Ransom
@EJR_Paleo_MSc · X

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

Jul 4, 2019 · 11 likes · 7 shares · 4,625 followers View post →
Dr. Amelia R. Zietlow
@TyrantLzrdQueen · X

@SebastianBArti1 https://t.co/9eGurIFDHB

Oct 25, 2023 · 2 likes · 5,904 followers View post →
Hans Elysia chlorotica
@ElysiaHans · X

@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

Jul 7, 2025 · 1 like · 82 followers View post →
FrecklesXX20
@FrecklesXX20 · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 6 shares · 6,493 followers View post →
ｶﾞｲｽ
@shitake_reverse · X

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

Jul 4, 2019 · 7 shares · 3,471 followers View post →

All mentions

Hans Elysia chlorotica
@ElysiaHans · X

@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

Jul 7, 2025 · 1 like · 82 followers View post →
Matthew Shawkey
@mdshawkey · X

From (respectively) https://t.co/0tVnGA28mK https://t.co/aj1J2h81bA https://t.co/DBMJvaOLoB

Apr 13, 2024 · 1,295 followers View post →
Dr. Amelia R. Zietlow
@TyrantLzrdQueen · X

@SebastianBArti1 https://t.co/9eGurIFDHB

Oct 25, 2023 · 2 likes · 5,904 followers View post →
Ronnie King
@kingrc1881 · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 6 shares · 44 followers View post →
Kris Cherita
@CheritaKris · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 6 shares · 702 followers View post →
Damien Verde
@Damien_Verde · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 6 shares · 554 followers View post →
FrecklesXX20
@FrecklesXX20 · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 6 shares · 6,493 followers View post →
Nyx, a gravatinha da física
@Aksala_caramelo · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 6 shares · 546 followers View post →
Fossil Bonanza
@FossilBonanza · X

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

Jul 14, 2022 · 25 likes · 6 shares · 7,198 followers View post →
Phytosauria International
@victorlr15 · X

@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."

Apr 22, 2021 · 586 followers View post →
Frank Vehafric
@fvehafric · X

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

Jul 7, 2019 · 7 shares · 2,078 followers View post →
Brendan Takahashi (恐竜ブレンダン)
@DinosaurBrendan · X

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

Jul 5, 2019 · 7 shares · 335 followers View post →
荒れクトロ
@gracilis_delta · X

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

Jul 4, 2019 · 7 shares · 414 followers View post →
ｶﾞｲｽ
@shitake_reverse · X

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

Jul 4, 2019 · 7 shares · 3,471 followers View post →
Gill @ Chilling in My Favorite Void
@eeveeEnthusiast · X

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

Jul 4, 2019 · 7 shares · 187 followers View post →
Evan Johnson-Ransom
@EJR_Paleo_MSc · X

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

Jul 4, 2019 · 11 likes · 7 shares · 4,625 followers View post →