Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Elaborative Rehearsals

Elaborative Rehearsals

Elaborative rehearsal is a crucial cognitive strategy that strengthens information encoding in long-term memory by making meaningful connections between new data and pre-existing knowledge. This approach contrasts with maintenance rehearsal, which involves simple repetition without delving into the significance of the information. While maintenance rehearsal might temporarily keep information active in short-term memory, it is less effective for long-term retention.
The effectiveness of...

Fixed Action Patterns

Fixed Action Patterns

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.

Patterns of Fever

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...

¹H NMR Signal Multiplicity: Splitting Patterns

¹H NMR Signal Multiplicity: Splitting Patterns

When protons A and X are coupled, their nuclear spin energy levels are slightly modified. This is because the energy required to excite proton A to a spin state parallel to proton X is slightly different from the energy required for it to become anti-parallel to spin X. Consequently, there are two possible excitation frequencies for A (A1 and A2), depending on the spin state of X, and vice versa. The mutual nature of coupling implies that the difference between frequencies A1 and A2, indicated...

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The evolution of the eufalconimorph syrinx informed by phylogenetic comparative methods and diceCT imaging of falconiforms, parrots, and passerines.

Zoological journal of the Linnean Society·2026

Same author

Association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and lung function in exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The mediating role of inflammatory indicators.

Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition·2026

Same author

A unique hollow melanosome morphology in the hairs of the platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Biology letters·2026

Same author

High melanosome diversity exhibits weak correlation with color and environmental variables in the early evolution of therian mammals.

Science advances·2025

Same author

Low dietary quality in patients with COPD and the association with disease severity: A cross-sectional study.

Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition·2025

Same author

Comparative Osteology of the Hynobiid Complex Liua-Protohynobius-Pseudohynobius (Amphibia, Urodela): II. Anatomy and Taxonomic Revision of Enigmatic Protohynobius puxiongensis.

Journal of morphology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Published on: March 8, 2020

Elaborate plumage patterning in a Cretaceous bird.

Quanguo Li¹, Julia A Clarke², Ke-Qin Gao³

¹State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China.

|November 9, 2018

Summary

Fossilized bird plumage from the Cretaceous period reveals complex color patterns in *Confuciusornis*. These ancient feather patterns, preserved by melanin, suggest early avian evolution involved sophisticated coloration for camouflage or signaling.

Keywords:

Color pattern Confuciusornis Crypsis Diversity Melanin

More Related Videos

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Published on: November 6, 2015

A Push-pull Protocol to Reduce Colonization of Bird Nest Boxes by Honey Bees

A Push-pull Protocol to Reduce Colonization of Bird Nest Boxes by Honey Bees

Published on: September 4, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike Lanius Ludovicianus Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

Published on: March 8, 2020

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Published on: November 6, 2015

A Push-pull Protocol to Reduce Colonization of Bird Nest Boxes by Honey Bees

A Push-pull Protocol to Reduce Colonization of Bird Nest Boxes by Honey Bees

Published on: September 4, 2016

Area of Science:

Paleontology
Evolutionary Biology
Vertebrate Zoology

Background:

Integumentary patterns and colors in extant birds are crucial for species, sex, and life stage differentiation, and provide ecological insights.
Preservation of such intricate integumentary details in the fossil record is exceptionally rare, limiting our understanding of early avian coloration.

Purpose of the Study:

To report and analyze unprecedentedly complex integumentary patterns in a well-preserved Cretaceous bird fossil, *Confuciusornis*.
To investigate the composition and potential function of these fossilized plumage patterns.

Main Methods:

Morphological examination of a fossil specimen of *Confuciusornis*.
Chemical analysis to identify the pigment responsible for the integumentary patterns.
Comparative analysis with integumentary patterns of extant avian species.

Main Results:

Discovery of a *Confuciusornis* specimen with highly complex, small spot patterns on wings, crest, and throat.
Morphological and chemical evidence indicates melanin as the pigment, though specific colors are indeterminate due to preservation.
Identified patterns are comparable in complexity to those found in later fossil discoveries like *Anchiornis* and *Sinosauropteryx*.

Conclusions:

Elaborate plumage patterning was present early in avian evolution, as evidenced by *Confuciusornis*.
These patterns likely served functions such as camouflage or sexual signaling, similar to extant birds.
The findings underscore the significant role of coloration and patterning in the evolution of feathers and early birds.