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submitted 8 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] Sal@mander.xyz 1 points 8 months ago

I am going to be that guy and point out that pterosaurs were not dinosaurs, unless you consider primates to be squirrels cause we are distantly related.

Ah, thank you for being that guy! Now I know 😄

Also fun fact pterosaurs may have had a type of feathering which either means that the ancestors of both dinosaurs and pterosaurs had feathers or it evolved at least twice. And on a similar thing of body coverings, stem mamals/proto-mammals had fur before the dinosaurs ever evolved.

Can the feathers and fur (or their impression) be preserved for millions of years in some types of fossilization? Or is the presence of these concluded from the bone structures, fossilized skin, or other not so direct pieces of evidence? And, is any direct evidence of color preserved? No pressure to answer, I am just wondering out loud.

[-] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago

On the preservation thing, it depends but it usually comes down tp either skin impressions, soft tissue fossilization, or imprints kinda like fossil footprints. You were basically on point with your guess. But yeah this type of evidence is varried and highly temperamental in how we find it.

[-] Sal@mander.xyz 2 points 8 months ago

Thanks! I can imagine preserving a feather for 65 millions of years is no easy feat.

[-] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago

I think the only thing that preserves worse are soft bodied organisms like jellyfish. But yeah if ya want to learn more on this shit PBS Eons on youtube is a pretty solid start.