{"id":1234,"date":"2026-08-14T02:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-08-14-iridescent-pterosaur-fibers-en\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T02:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:15:00","slug":"2026-08-14-iridescent-pterosaur-fibers-en","status":"publish","type":"briefing","link":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/briefing\/2026-08-14-iridescent-pterosaur-fibers-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Did the pterosaur sparkle in green and magenta colors? Nanostructures emerged from hair-like fibers."},"content":{"rendered":"

2026-08-14 02:15 KST<\/strong><\/p>\n

A study has been made public showing that fine structures capable of producing sparkling lights ranging from green to magenta were discovered in a fossil of a pterosaur from the Cretaceous period in China.<\/p>\n

Color restoration is an estimate based on an optical model, and the research is still a preliminary paper before peer review, so it cannot be confirmed that the entire body was actually the same color.<\/p>\n

where and what did you see<\/h2>\n

The researchers examined fossils of tapejarid pterosaurs from the Djehol biome, which date back about 120 million years. They reported using an electron microscope to observe a layered nanostructure of pigment-containing melanosomes inside the hair-like pycnofibers that cover the body.<\/p>\n

Why did you interpret it as sparkle?<\/h2>\n

When the shape and spacing of melanosomes enhances some wavelengths of light, they produce structural colors that change color depending on the viewing angle. The researchers’ optical simulations produced reflections in the green to magenta range. Because the pigment remains, the color is not seen directly, but is a result calculated using the structure.<\/p>\n

\"Did
This is a generated image created to illustrate a topic and is not a photo of an actual scene or observation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s New<\/h2>\n

It is novel to report such a layered structure in pterosaur pycnofibres. The researchers discussed the possibility of common evolution of skin appendages in pterosaur and dinosaur lineages by linking them to known structural coloration in bird plumage. However, the structure of one specimen is not representative of all pterosaurs.<\/p>\n

What is still unclear?<\/h2>\n

The structure may have been compressed or deformed during the fossilization process, and it is difficult to determine the brightness and distribution of the original color. The analysis or conclusions of a preliminary paper may change during the expert review process. The same nanostructure must be confirmed repeatedly in independent samples.<\/p>\n

Why study color?<\/h2>\n

Color can be used for camouflage, thermoregulation, species identification, and mating signals. However, the presence of sparkles alone does not determine its function. These results present a range of colors that can be tested for paleontological restoration.<\/p>\n

official source material<\/h2>\n

bioRxiv preprint record<\/a><\/p>\n

Sciety preprint index<\/a><\/p>\n

Science News independent review<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A layered melanosome structure that reflects light was reported in the pycnofibers of a Cretaceous pterosaur fossil. This is currently a pre-peer review study.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-1234","briefing","type-briefing","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing\/1234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/briefing"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/briefing"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onepress.co.kr\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}