Melanosomes are organelles that produce and store melanin, a widespread biological
pigment with a unique suite of properties including high refractive index, semiconducting …

Melanins are widespread pigments in vertebrates, with important roles in visual signaling,
UV protection, and homeostasis. Fossil evidence of melanin and melanin-bearing …

The total-evidence approach to divergence time dating uses molecular and morphological
data from extant and fossil species to infer phylogenetic relationships, species divergence …

Structural colors arising from interactions of light with submicron scale periodic structures
have been found in many species across all taxa, serving multiple biological functions …

Iridescent feather colors involved in displays of many extant birds are produced by
nanoscale arrays of melanin-containing organelles (melanosomes). Data relevant to the …

Melanins are the ubiquitous pigments distributed in nature. They are one of the main
pigments responsible for colors in living cells. Birds are among the most diverse animals …

Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to achieve true flapping flight, but in the absence of
living representatives, many questions concerning their biology and lifestyle remain …

BACKGROUND More than 30 different lineages of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and
mammals have independently invaded oceans ecosystems. Prominent examples include …

Well-preserved fossils of pivotal early bird and nonavian theropod species have provided
unequivocal evidence for feathers and/or downlike integuments. Recent studies have …

In living organisms, color patterns, behavior, and ecology are closely linked. Thus, detection
of fossil pigments may permit inferences about important aspects of ancient animal ecology …