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. 2015 Jun 2:6:7141.
doi: 10.1038/ncomms8141.

A Mesozoic bird from Gondwana preserving feathers

Ismar de Souza Carvalho  1 , Fernando E Novas  2 , Federico L Agnolín  2   3 , Marcelo P Isasi  2   3 , Francisco I Freitas  4 , José A Andrade  5
Affiliations

A Mesozoic bird from Gondwana preserving feathers

Ismar de Souza Carvalho et al. Nat Commun. .

Abstract

The fossil record of birds in the Mesozoic of Gondwana is mostly based on isolated and often poorly preserved specimens, none of which has preserved details on feather anatomy. We provide the description of a fossil bird represented by a skeleton with feathers from the Early Cretaceous of Gondwana (NE Brazil). The specimen sheds light on the homology and 3D structure of the rachis-dominated feathers, previously known from two-dimensional slabs. The rectrices exhibit a row of rounded spots, probably corresponding to some original colour pattern. The specimen supports the identification of the feather scapus as the rachis, which is notably robust and elliptical in cross-section. In spite of its juvenile nature, the tail plumage resembles the feathering of adult individuals of modern birds. Documentation of rachis-dominated tail in South American enantiornithines broadens the paleobiogeographic distribution of basal birds with this tail feather morphotype, up to now only reported from China.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Main slab and interpretative drawing of specimen UFRJ-DG 031 Av.
(a) Main slab. (b) Interpretative drawing of the skeleton and feathers. (c) Reconstructed cross-section at the level of distal vanes of the feathers. (d) Reconstructed cross-section at mid-length of the rachis. (e) Reconstructed cross-section of the calamus. al, alula; cd, free caudal vertebrae; dv, dorsal vertebrae; fr, frontals; lc, left coracoid; lcp, left carpometacarpus; lf, left foot; lh, left humerus; lr, left radius; ls, left scapula; lu, left ulna; mx, maxilla; pub, pubes; py, pygostyle; ra, rachis; rc, right coracoid; rh, right humerus; rr, right radius; rt, right tibiotarsus; rtmt, right metatarsals; ru, right ulna; sp, colour spots; v, vanes. Dark grey represents the vanes, light grey represents the scapus. Scale bar, 10 mm.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Details of tail feather of specimen UFRJ-DG 031 Av.
(a) Proximal end. (b) Distal end. cal, calamus; lg, longitudinal groove; ra, rachis; sp, colour spot; v, vane. Scale bar, 2.5 mm.
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