๐ฆ 120-Million-Year-Old Pterosaur Fossil Suggests It Shimmered in Green and Magenta
A fresh analysis of a Sinopterus dongi fossil from China's Jehol Biota found highly ordered, rod-like melanosomes inside preserved pycnofibers โ the same nanostructures that make pigeons and starlings iridescent today. Computer simulations suggest this pterosaur shimmered in deep greens and magentas, likely for courtship displays. That means iridescent plumage evolved tens of millions of years before birds ever existed. Do you think ancient flying reptiles were as colorful and flashy as today's birds of paradise?
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