Prehistoric creatures with preserved colorations?

[Faelrin]

I thought it might be handy to have a list of fossil animals that have evidence of coloration. I thought of this after learning that Yi qi had preserved melanosomes (where most areas are colored black, with the head being or having yellow, so I guess this means the Kaiyodo and probably the PNSO figures are off in that regard, unfortunately).

So here's the start of the list I guess, starting with the animals I can remember off the top of my head (with a little research done on what specimens have preserved coloration):

Theropoda:
-Sinosauropteryx prima (multiple specimens)
-Beipiaosaurus inexpectus (specimen BMNHC PH000911)
-Caudipteryx zoui (holotype specimen NGMC 97-4-A)
-Yi qi (holotype specimen STM 31-2)
-Anchiornis huxleyi (specimens BMNHC PH828 and YFGP-T5199)
-Caihong juji (holotype specimen PMoL-B00175)
-Yixianosaurus longimanus (holotype specimen IVPP V12638)
-Microraptor (gui?) (specimen BMNHC PH881)
-Sinornithosaurus millenii (specimen IVPP V 12811)
-Archaeopteryx?
-Confuciusornis (not sure which species specimen CUGB P1401 belongs to)
-Eoconfuciusornis zhengi (holotype specimen IVPP V11977?)

Ornithischia:
-Borealopelta markmitchelli (holotype specimen TMP 2011.033.0001, aka the Suncor nodosaur)
-Psittacosaurus sp. (specimen SMF R 4970)
-Edmontosaurus annectens (Dakota specimen, less coloration and more so patterns found on some of the body)


Mammals:
-Woolly Mammoth/Mammuthus primigenius (young and adult specimens found, and depicted in cave paintings)
-Woolly Rhino/Coelodonta antiquitatis (young and adult specimens found, and depicted in cave paintings)
-Megaloceros (giganteus?) (depicted in cave paintings)
-Cave Lion/Panthera spelaea (at least several cubs found so far)
-Cave Bear/Ursus spelaeus (assuming the preserved bear discovered last year is this)?

Invertebrates:
Dunbaria fasciipennis (at least the pattern, thanks @Newt)

I also recall learning about a fossil snake discovered in early 2016 I think that had preserved coloration on its scales. Unfortunately I may need to do some digging to figure out what this one was called.

Anyways I'll probably do more research and add what else I find, unless anyone is aware of any I missed right off the bat that I can add and/or correct.

Edit: Some days late I guess, but I changed the title based on the discussion, which is probably more correct, and added an additional example with more to come soon.

[Stegotyranno420]

we know mosaaurids, especially prognathodon were countershaded. I made a countershaded prognathodon based on the evidence, maybe it might give you a better understanding, but keep in mind, I'm just a middle schooler boy who has no experience in actual paleontology and I just study it through online or videos of similar people. But I think I got it right.

A also we know some itchyosaurs were very dark grey, and kind of similar to sperm whales in color

All this info came from Trey Explainers video about the topic

[Faelrin]

@Stegotyranno420 Yeah I'm not well versed in marine reptiles (and pterosaurs as well) so I'm certainly going to need to do a lot of research on what's out there for them. I'll certainly look into that one though, as a starting point.

[Stegotyranno420]

@Stegotyranno420 Yeah I'm not well versed in marine reptiles (and pterosaurs as well) so I'm certainly going to need to do a lot of research on what's out there for them. I'll certainly look into that one though, as a starting point.

oh yeah, how about borealpelta, wasn't it like red or brown

[Faelrin]

@Stegotyranno420 I can't believe I forgot one of my favorites (dang brainfog). Thanks for pointing it out.

[Stegotyranno420]

@Faelrin no problemo bro

[Stegotyranno420]

Also, if you are curious , i got some pics showing the countershading of prognathodon, which will be ranked worst to best in terms of my known knowledge.
(colors and patterns are the main focus, not the actual animal)




the last one was my own, which i made based on what i was told, so dont get the idea im putting mine at best, we are ranking based on accuracy to my knowlegde of colors, which is very specific

[stargatedalek]

I'd like to stress that "preserved colouration" is very different from "known colouration".

Some of these like Edmontosaurus are generic patterns or otherwise subjectively interpretable, while others like Yi are only small sample sections and not representative of the colouration for the animal overall.

I don't think we have preserved colouration from any mosasaurs, though someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Just because it is practically a guarantee they were some degree of counter shaded doesn't mean that belongs on a list of preserved or known colourations.

I would argue the only (Mesozoic) dinosaurs with known colouration are Microraptor (I'm fairly certain BMNHC PH881 is M. gui), Sinosauropteryx, Anchiornis and Psittacosaurus.

In a similar situation to Megaloceros, we now know dodo (Raphus) colours as well from a contemporary painting of a specimen imported live to India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo#/media/File:DodoMansur.jpg

[Stegotyranno420]

Here is where i got the info about prognathodon counter shading(and other animals) its a bit outdated but most of the info is true to my knowledge. Hopefully someone with experience can give a rundown of whats right and wrong
https://youtu.be/aTodrQ81YHs

[HD-man]

"In Living Color (Maybe)": https://www.deviantart.com/albertonykus/art/In-Living-Color-Maybe-613196380

[Newt]

There are quite a lot of invertebrates with preserved coloration, or at least patterns. Here's just one example: the palaeodictyopteran insect Dunbaria fasciipennis from the Permian Wellington Formation of Oklahoma and Kansas, USA:






If any of you share my habit of stopping and looking at roadkilled reptiles and amphibians, or have spent much time in museum collections, you may have noticed that the colors of animals can fade and change quickly after death. In particular, yellows, reds, and the silvery colors of fishes tend to be pretty fugitive, while browns and blacks and structural colors such as most blues tend to last longer. This should be kept in mind when interpreting fossil evidence.

[Halichoeres]

If any of you share my habit of stopping and looking at roadkilled reptiles and amphibians, or have spent much time in museum collections, you may have noticed that the colors of animals can fade and change quickly after death. In particular, yellows, reds, and the silvery colors of fishes tend to be pretty fugitive, while browns and blacks and structural colors such as most blues tend to last longer. This should be kept in mind when interpreting fossil evidence.

Can confirm! When I've collected fish, you can tell the order they went into the bucket by how much red remains on their flanks, and that's even before euthanasia.

[Stegotyranno420]

@Faelrin i believe it would be better if you changed it from theropods and ornithschians to inetgumented and non integumented. My second proposition is to maybe provide accurate images to readers so they can understand better.
But its just my ideas and your choice, just a suggestion, don't want to force ya

[Faelrin]

@Stegotyranno420 I definitely need to do some updating/fixing for this thread, such as fixing the title, etc. Just haven't had the mental energy or interest for it lately (my depression is pretty bad atm). I'll try to get it taken care of by tonight though.

[Stegotyranno420]

@Stegotyranno420 I definitely need to do some updating/fixing for this thread, such as fixing the title, etc. Just haven't had the mental energy or interest for it lately (my depression is pretty bad atm). I'll try to get it taken care of by tonight though.

Oh no, I'm really sorry. Hope you get better.

[Faelrin]

Alright going to try responding to folks, even though this is days late.

@stargatedalek Thanks for pointing it out. Honestly it's been pretty hard for me to process my words or thought as of late, so I appreciate this, and I've gone and changed the title to better reflect this hopefully.

I did see a paper regarding mosasaur coloration linked on the main page for them on wikipedia. I'll try to dig for it tomorrow morning.

I was aware about the dodo thing, but I wasn't sure if I should add it with how recent it went extinct. I guess the same applies to the thylacine (which we have pelts for), great auk, and the plethora of animals that are no longer with us unfortunately. Thoughts?

H @HD-man Thanks for sharing that. I think I've seen that before actually, but it's certainly a good refresher. I'll do some further research on some of those I've missed, and add them to the op tomorrow likely.

@Newt I've added the insect you've mentioned to the op. You make an excellent point about colorations fading, and other such alterations after death.

@Stegotyranno420 I think I'll try to implement some image examples tomorrow, but I'm not entirely sure what would be best to add other then paleo artworks in most cases? I also want to try and add as many paper references I used earlier as well. Edit: Also thanks for your concern as well. I really hope I can resume therapy soon at the very least.

[Bowhead Whale]

If any of you share my habit of stopping and looking at roadkilled reptiles and amphibians, or have spent much time in museum collections, you may have noticed that the colors of animals can fade and change quickly after death. In particular, yellows, reds, and the silvery colors of fishes tend to be pretty fugitive, while browns and blacks and structural colors such as most blues tend to last longer. This should be kept in mind when interpreting fossil evidence.

Can confirm! When I've collected fish, you can tell the order they went into the bucket by how much red remains on their flanks, and that's even before euthanasia.

It is the same thing with photographs. Many images that I put on my wall have lost their yewllows and reds and are turning bluer and bluer.

[Rexy]

I think it makes sense for marine reptiles to be counter shaded. Fossilized skin pigmented with eumelanin, an inert pigment capable of absorbing UV photons as they enter the skin, has revealed that mosasaurs had dark backs and light bellies, making them almost invisible whilst hunting.

[Halichoeres]

Groenlandaspis appears to have had some reddish pigment on top while being otherwise silvery.

[Stegotyranno420]

Groenlandaspis appears to have had some reddish pigment on top while being otherwise silvery.

Cool! I will like to try out making a picture of it when I can. Thanks.