Soft-tissue evidence for homeothermy and crypsis in a Jurassic ichthyosaur

Synchrotron-based X-ray tomographic microscopy of melanophores (skin pigment cells) of an amazingly well preserved 180 million years old ichtyosaur (extinct marine reptile similar to whales) contributed in a multidisciplinary investigation to the new findings published today in Nature. It has been demonstrated that ichthyosaurs evolved similar strategies as modern marine animals to adapt to pelagic life: they were warm-blooded reptiles and possessed a countershaded coloration useful for camouflage, protection against UV light and heat regulation.

 

Lindgren J, Sjövall P, Thiel V, Zheng W, Ito S, Wakamatsu K, et al.
Soft-tissue evidence for homeothermy and crypsis in a Jurassic ichthyosaur
Nature. 2018; 564(7736): 359-365.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0775-x

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