Structure and homology of <i>Psittacosaurus</i> tail bristles

Mayr, Gérald; Pittman, Michael; Saitta, Evan T.; Kaye, Thomas G.; Vinther, Jakob

doi:10.1111/pala.12257

Cited by 31 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The only other constituent preserved in the feathers was calcium phosphate, either derived from the hardened keratin as observed elsewhere (Mayr et al . ; Vinther et al . ) or through secondary mineralization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Low fossilization potential of keratin protein revealed by experimental taphonomy

et al. 2017

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Recent studies have suggested the presence of keratin in fossils dating back to the Mesozoic. However, ultrastructural studies revealing exposed melanosomes in many fossil keratinous tissues suggest that keratin should rarely, if ever, be preserved. In this study, keratin's stability through diagenesis was tested using microbial decay and maturation experiments on various keratinous structures. The residues were analysed using pyrolysis‐gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and compared to unpublished feather and hair fossils and published fresh and fossil melanin from squid ink. Results show that highly matured feathers (200–250°C/250 bars/24 h) become a volatile‐rich, thick fluid with semi‐distinct pyrolysis compounds from those observed in less degraded keratins (i.e. fresh, decayed, moderately matured, and decayed and moderately matured) suggesting hydrolysis of peptide bonds and potential degradation of free amino acids. Neither melanization nor keratin (secondary) structure (e.g. ⍺‐ vs β‐keratin) produced different pyrograms; melanin pyrolysates are largely a subset of those from proteins, and proteins have characteristic pyrolysates. Analyses of fossil fur and feather found a lack of amides, succinimide and piperazines (present even in highly matured keratin) and showed pyrolysis compounds more similar to fossil and fresh melanin than to non‐matured or matured keratin. Although the highly matured fluid was not water soluble at room temperature, it readily dissolved at elevated temperatures easily attained during diagenesis, meaning it could leach away from the fossil. Future interpretations of fossils must consider that calcium phosphate and pigments are the only components of keratinous structures known to survive fossilization in mature sediments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These salts are known from the fossil record (Mayr et al . ; Vinther et al . ) as thin, usually white, phosphate sheets (Benton et al .…”

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Low fossilization potential of keratin protein revealed by experimental taphonomy

et al. 2017

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“…A–B, photograph and corresponding drawing of Psittacosaurus ( SMF R 4970) tail bristles (see also Mayr et al . , fig. ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Psittacosaurus had long, simple, non‐branching, bristle‐like filaments that potentially occurred in clusters (Mayr et al . ), and Confuciusornis is expected to have relatively more derived feathers compared to the more basal taxa (Chiappe et al . ; Prum & Brush ; Zhang et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Additional information on the primitive contour and wing feathering of paravian dinosaurs

Saitta

Gelernter²,

Vinther

2017

Palaeontology

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Identifying feather morphology in extinct dinosaurs is challenging due to dense overlapping of filaments within fossilized plumage and the fact that some extinct feather morphologies are unlike those of extant birds or those predicted from an ‘evo‐devo’ model of feather evolution. Here, we compare a range of dinosaur taxa with preserved integumentary appendages using high‐resolution photographs to better understand fossil feather morphology and gain insight into their function and evolution. A specimen of the basal paravian Anchiornis possesses contour feathers disarticulated from the plumage, revealing a novel feather type: a ‘shaggy’, open‐vaned, bifurcated feather with long barbs attached to a short rachis, which is much simpler than the contour feathers of most extant birds. In contrast, it is likely that the contour feathers of Sinosauropteryx were simpler than those seen in Anchiornis; a ‘tuft’ morphology of multiple barbs connected at their bases (e.g. via a shared follicle), but lacking a rachis, is tentatively inferred. However, conclusive morphological descriptions await the discovery of isolated Sinosauropteryx contour feathers. Paravian wing feathers also show potentially plesiomorphic traits. Comparison with Confuciusornis suggests that Anchiornis wing feathers were at least partially open‐vaned. Combined with the interpretation of Anchiornis contour feathers, this suggests that differentiated barbicels are relatively derived compared to pennaceous feathers and the appearance of wings. ‘Shaggy’ contour feathers probably influenced thermoregulatory and water repellence abilities, and, in combination with open‐vaned wing feathers, would have decreased aerodynamic efficiency. Simplified, open‐vaned wing feathers were also observed on the oviraptorosaur Caudipteryx, consistent with, but not necessarily diagnostic of, its suggested flightlessness. Taken together, these observations have broad implications for how we depict a wide variety of dinosaurs and how we view the function and evolution of feathers.

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Palaeocolour: A History and State of the Art

Smithwick

Vinther

2020

The Evolution of Feathers

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Structure and homology of Psittacosaurus tail bristles

Cited by 31 publications

References 40 publications

Low fossilization potential of keratin protein revealed by experimental taphonomy

Low fossilization potential of keratin protein revealed by experimental taphonomy

Additional information on the primitive contour and wing feathering of paravian dinosaurs

Palaeocolour: A History and State of the Art

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