The study is based on the analysis of a new fossilized skull of the 115-million-year-old pterosaur Tupandactylus imperator.
This species of pterosaurs is known for its unusual shape.skull with a large crest. The team found that the underside of the crest has a fluffy rim of feathers. It had short stiff hair-like feathers, as well as fluffy and curly ones.
Possible appearance of a pterosaur
We didn't expect to see this.For decades, paleontologists have debated whether pterosaurs had feathers. But our study puts an end to all conflicts - we observed a clear plumage structure that modern birds have.
Audi Cincotta, doctor and paleontologist at University College Cork (UCC)
The team then studied the feathers with powerfulelectron microscopes and found preserved melanosomes - melanin pigment granules. It turned out that melanosomes in different types of feathers have different shapes.
In modern birds, feather color is closely related toform of melanosome. Since pterosaur feather types have different shapes, they must have had a genetic mechanism that controlled the color of their feathers, the authors conclude.
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