How the Penguin changed its feathers
Alan Boyle
Msn Science article
(Cosmic Log on Msn)
Sept 30th 2010
Kyle C.
In a small region in Peru, paleontologist have discovered the importance of 36 million old ancient feather fossil followed by different color and pattern scheme, the paleontologist concluded as declaring, "the ancient fossils suggest that the feather of the primitive penguins weren't hardy as now it used to be." The ancient fossil was investigated and first discovered by a Peruvian student (Ali Altamirano) and was found in Paracas National Reserve on the Peruvian coast south of the capital "Lima".When researchers noticed that there was scaly smooth tissue protected/preserved on an exposed foot, they named/nicknamed it the specimen "Pedro," after a sleazy, scaly character from a Colombian soap opera. Rather than classical/modern penguins we usually see today, the ancient ones were colorful and contained reddish - brown and gray feathers. The name of the fossil species " Inkayacu Paracasensis" meant as the Water King of Paracas in the Quecha Language. The Inkayacu paracasensis skeleton suggests how primitive penguins adapted their surroundings.When paleontologists analyzed the creature's height, they estimated that it was nearly around 5 feet such as Emperor Penguin.
Besides preserved fossils of flippers and feathers there are additional fine patterns of color-producing nanostructures known as melanosomes that has to be kept. Patterns could be contrast with a vast database of melanosome structures for living birds.
Melanosomes are biological cell, is an organelle which contains a melanin. The shapes of the feathers and the flippers were close to what is seen in penguins today. However patterns of the fossilized melanosomes are less similar to today’s penguins but they are inclose touch with aquatic birds. Modern-day penguins have giant melanosomes that are broader than the ancient ones.In fact, today's penguins have bigger melanosomes than the ones found in all kinds of bird species.The fact that penguins initially adapted to their aquatic environment was by developing strong, feathers that were stacked to make stiff, and narrow flippers.
Melanosomes are biological cell, is an organelle which contains a melanin. The shapes of the feathers and the flippers were close to what is seen in penguins today. However patterns of the fossilized melanosomes are less similar to today’s penguins but they are inclose touch with aquatic birds. Modern-day penguins have giant melanosomes that are broader than the ancient ones.In fact, today's penguins have bigger melanosomes than the ones found in all kinds of bird species.The fact that penguins initially adapted to their aquatic environment was by developing strong, feathers that were stacked to make stiff, and narrow flippers.
Scientists and paleontologists believe that alternation of color might have been a side effect of the shift in melanosome structure, or caused due to protective response to relatively recent predators such as leopard seals. One of the co-authors responses that "Insights into the color of extinct organisms can reveal clues to their ecology and behavior." "But most of all, I think it is simply just cool to get a look at the color of a remarkable extinct organism, such as a giant fossil penguin."
I found your article rally interesting and well-written. It showed how penguins, just like many other animals, have evolved over a long time. Your article contained a lot of long words, which hits my eyes, but is good for your vocabulary. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI also found this summary to be full of interesting facts as well as scientific reasoning for evolution as well as how animals learn to adapt to their environment through their own cells. Great work Kyle. Try to make your summary a bit more succinct and include your thoughts of how this can improve scientific understanding.
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