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Skin pigmentation provides evidence of convergent melanism in extinct marine reptiles

Author

Listed:
  • Johan Lindgren

    (Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden)

  • Peter Sjövall

    (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Chemistry, Materials and Surfaces, SE-501 15 Borås, Sweden)

  • Ryan M. Carney

    (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA)

  • Per Uvdal

    (MAX-IV laboratory, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
    Chemical Physics, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden)

  • Johan A. Gren

    (Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden)

  • Gareth Dyke

    (Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
    Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK)

  • Bo Pagh Schultz

    (MUSERUM, Havnevej 14, 7800 Skive, Denmark)

  • Matthew D. Shawkey

    (Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron)

  • Kenneth R. Barnes

    (Mosasaur Ranch Museum)

  • Michael J. Polcyn

    (Southern Methodist University)

Abstract

Dark melanin pigment was detected in the fossilized skin of three distantly related marine reptiles (a leatherback turtle, mosasaur and ichthyosaur); benefits of thermoregulation and/or crypsis may have contributed to this melanisation, which therefore has implications for our understanding of how these animals may have lived.

Suggested Citation

  • Johan Lindgren & Peter Sjövall & Ryan M. Carney & Per Uvdal & Johan A. Gren & Gareth Dyke & Bo Pagh Schultz & Matthew D. Shawkey & Kenneth R. Barnes & Michael J. Polcyn, 2014. "Skin pigmentation provides evidence of convergent melanism in extinct marine reptiles," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7489), pages 484-488, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:506:y:2014:i:7489:d:10.1038_nature12899
    DOI: 10.1038/nature12899
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    Cited by:

    1. Tiffany S. Slater & Shosuke Ito & Kazumasa Wakamatsu & Fucheng Zhang & Peter Sjövall & Martin Jarenmark & Johan Lindgren & Maria E. McNamara, 2023. "Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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