When I learned about dinosaurs in elementary school, feathers were definitely not part of the conversation. Otherwise, I would've chosen a feathered dinosaur as my favorite dinosaur!
We know that dinosaurs were specifically land animals so the feathers weren't used for flight, but possible for cooling, for attracting a mate, etc.
What stood out for me in this lecture was how feather colors are possible to predict based on the shape and arrangement of pigment cells called eumelanosomes.
Read more about dinosaurs and feathers through the following links:
We know that dinosaurs were specifically land animals so the feathers weren't used for flight, but possible for cooling, for attracting a mate, etc.
What stood out for me in this lecture was how feather colors are possible to predict based on the shape and arrangement of pigment cells called eumelanosomes.
- Long and narrow eumelanosomes = black and grey feathers
- Short, wide eumelanosomes = brown and reddish brown
- no eumelanosomes = white
- narrow, parallel eumelanosomes = iridiscent, glossy sheen
Read more about dinosaurs and feathers through the following links: