Iteravis huchzermeyeri

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Time: Early Cretaceous (~120 million years ago)

Region: Liaoning Province, China

Formation: Yixian / Jiufotang Formation (Jehol Biota)

Coloration Data

Plumage samples for coloration analysis of Iteravis huchzermeyeri were collected from two areas of specimen AGB5841: a contour feather from the breast and a remex from the wing. Both regions contained dense populations of eumelanosomes, indicating a deeply dark, likely solid black coloration. The melanosomes lacked periodic, layered structural organization, confirming a matte appearance devoid of iridescence. Whether this black coloration extended across the entire plumage remains unresolved.

Method: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Publications

• Xia Wang, Jiandong Huang, Yuanchao Hu, Xiaoyu Liu, Jennifer Peteya & Julia A. Clarke (2018)
  Study of the coloration of Iteravis huchzermeyeri.

Documents and files

• Wang_et_al_2018.pdf (PDF)
  Article containing data on the coloration of Iteravis huchzermeyeri.

Reconstructions

Fossils