| Fossil evidence for evolution of the shape and color of penguin feathers. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20929737 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Penguin feathers are highly modified in form and function, but there have been no fossils to inform their evolution. A giant penguin with feathers was recovered from the late Eocene (~36 million years ago) of Peru. The fossil reveals that key feathering features, including undifferentiated primary wing feathers and broad body contour feather shafts, evolved early in the penguin lineage. Analyses of fossilized color-imparting melanosomes reveal that their dimensions were similar to those of non-penguin avian taxa and that the feathering may have been predominantly gray and reddish-brown. In contrast, the dark black-brown color of extant penguin feathers is generated by large, ellipsoidal melanosomes previously unknown for birds. The nanostructure of penguin feathers was thus modified after earlier macrostructural modifications of feather shape linked to aquatic flight. |
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Authors:
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Julia A Clarke; Daniel T Ksepka; Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi; Ali J Altamirano; Matthew D Shawkey; Liliana D'Alba; Jakob Vinther; Thomas J DeVries; Patrice Baby |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Date: 2010-09-30 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Science (New York, N.Y.) Volume: 330 ISSN: 1095-9203 ISO Abbreviation: Science Publication Date: 2010 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-11-12 Completed Date: 2010-12-14 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0404511 Medline TA: Science Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 954-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. julia_clarke@jsg.utexas.edu |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Biological Evolution* Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology Feathers / anatomy & histology*, ultrastructure Fossils* Melanosomes / ultrastructure Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Peru Phylogeny Pigmentation* Spheniscidae / anatomy & histology*, classification Wing / anatomy & histology |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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