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AxialGem t1_j280eb6 wrote

I think there is, right? We have skin impressions, and pigment can in fact be preserved, like in feather fossils we have. It's rare for sure, because it requires excellent preservation, but there are absolutely ways we can know

See also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur_coloration

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zav3rmd OP t1_j280hnu wrote

Tried to Google it. Says that skin is rarely intact all the more the color.

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AxialGem t1_j280ohy wrote

Yea, true. As I say, very rare. But possible. It's also not beyond the realm of possibility that better techniques for analysing fossils we already have will grant us a better idea in the future.

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dan_dares t1_j281zsx wrote

Skin is rarely intact but we have examples, so we can tell what the texture of those examples was.

However you are right that currently we cannot determine the pigmentation.

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yirzmstrebor t1_j2ck5bt wrote

We can, in fact, determine the coloration of dinosaurs , given well-preserved specimens. Most of these have been pigmentation of feathers. Microraptor had iridescent black feathers like modern crows, Anchiornis had black, white and grey feathers all over its body and a crest of dark red or ochre feathers on its head, and Sinosauropteryx had rusty orange feathers over its body and white rings on its tail. However, we have been able to discern the pigmentation of a couple of non-feathered dinosaurs. Psittacosaurus was counter-shaded (dark back, pale belly) and had stripes and spots resembling camouflage patterns seen in some modern animals such as certain deer. Borealopelta was also counter-shaded in shades of brown.

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dan_dares t1_j2cosn6 wrote

I love it when I learn something new.

Thank you!

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Yeoldhomie t1_j28s1ea wrote

Ah the nuance of a brain developed by the first page of google

Stupid ass

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