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Chemical, experimental, and morphological evidence for diagenetically altered melanin in exceptionally preserved fossils

2015; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 112; Issue: 41 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1073/pnas.1509831112

1091-6490

Caitlin Colleary, Andrei Dolocan, James D. Gardner, Suresh A. Singh, Michael Wuttke, Renate Rabenstein, Jörg Habersetzer, Stephan Schaal, Mulugeta Feseha, Matthew Clemens, Bonnie F. Jacobs, Ellen D. Currano, Louis L. Jacobs, RENÉ L. SYLVESTERSEN, Sarah E. Gabbott, Jakob Vinther,

Amphibian and Reptile Biology

Significance Melanin is a widespread pigment that provides black to reddish brown hues to organisms. Recent evidence has shown that melanin is retained in exceptionally preserved fossils, including feathered dinosaurs, allowing the reconstruction of ancient color patterns. However, little is known about the chemical preservation of melanin or its distribution in the fossil record. Here, we show that melanin is preserved in a number of soft-bodied fossils, but its burial under high pressure and temperature for millions of years alters its original chemistry. The widespread occurrence of melanin substantiates the applicability of reconstructing aspects of original color patterns and allows us to dismiss the alternative suggestion that these structures are microbial in origin.