title: Reconstruction of Microraptor and the evolution of iridescent plumage.
abstract: Iridescent feather colors involved in displays of many extant birds are produced by nanoscale arrays of melanin-containing organelles (melanosomes). Data relevant to the evolution of these colors and the properties of melanosomes involved in their generation have been limited. A data set sampling variables of extant avian melanosomes reveals that those forming most iridescent arrays are distinctly narrow. Quantitative comparison of these data with melanosome imprints densely sampled from a previously unknown specimen of the Early Cretaceous feathered Microraptor predicts that its plumage was predominantly iridescent. The capacity for simple iridescent arrays is thus minimally inferred in paravian dinosaurs. This finding and estimation of Microraptor feathering consistent with an ornamental function for the tail suggest a centrality for signaling in early evolution of plumage and feather color.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Museum of Natural History, 126 Tianqiao South Street, Beijing 100050, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Quanguo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ke-Qin
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qingjin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shawkey
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Alba
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Mick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Norell
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vinther
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002681:China; D003116:Color; D025061:Dinosaurs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005241:Feathers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D020460:Melanosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010858:Pigmentation
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D007633:Keratins