28 sept 2011
- Scientists were able to reconstruct the original colors of prehistoric insects.
- It's now known that prehistoric beetles sported vivid, metallic hues.
- Color can leave behind structural and chemical evidence in fossils, permitting the reconstructions.
The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, add to the growing body of evidence that non-avian dinosaurs, Dino Era birds, prehistoric fish, early insects, and more were literally very colorful creatures.
The colors within fossils may not always be visible to the naked eye. Researchers, however, are now able to reveal the long-lost hues by studying the structural and chemical bases of the individual's original color. Many beetle fossils do exhibit colors, but they are a far cry from the hotrod shades these insects once sported.
