Researchers have shed light on the evolution of early mammals’ coat colors, revealing they wore dark, drab coats to blend in with their surroundings during the Age of Dinosaurs. According to a study published in March Science, ancient mammals likely sported monochrome ensembles consisting of shades of gray and brown to evade predators.
The team analyzed melanosomes, pigment-containing structures within hair follicles, in 116 modern mammals and found a correlation between melanosome shape and color production. Melanosomes responsible for brighter colors like reds and oranges are rounder, while those producing darker tones are elongated.
The researchers applied this predictive model to six early mammals from the Jurassic Period, which lived around 120-167 million years ago. The results showed that these ancient creatures had dark gray and brown coats across their bodies, with no evidence of colorful patterns or bright hues like leopard print or zebra stripes.
This finding suggests that many Mesozoic mammals were small, nocturnal creatures that relied on camouflage to avoid predators. Their dark fur may have also provided thermal insulation and protection from the elements. The study’s lead author notes that further research is needed to determine when more colorful patterns emerged in early mammals.
Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/dark-coats-earliest-mammals-dinosaurs