Over 150 million years ago, our tiny mammalian ancestors had a secret weapon: dark, dusky brown fur! A recent study by a collaborative team of Chinese and Belgian scientists has uncovered that these early mammals sported a simple melanin-based coat, perfectly designed for nighttime camouflage.
Living alongside dinosaurs, these creatures blended into the night to avoid being spotted by predators. Much like modern nocturnal mammals such as moles and bats (or even our favorite nocturnal superhero, Batman 🦇), they used the cover of darkness to stay safe.
The researchers studied fossilized pigments, known as melanosomes, to reveal that the dark fur not only provided stealth but also helped retain heat and offered extra protection. In contrast to the vibrant colors seen in feathered dinosaurs and early birds, these early mammals stuck with a solid dark tone, highlighting a unique evolutionary path.
Li Ruoshuang from the China University of Geosciences (Beijing) explained that the exceptional preservation of fossils allowed the team to piece together insights into the mammals' secretive lifestyles and adaptive evolution. This study reminds us that even a simple trait like fur color can be a game-changer in the survival story of life on Earth.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
