#1
#1 out of 1
10h ago
"Totally unexpected.” Scientists just discovered yet another extraordinary thing about the platypus | Discover Wildlife
- A new study finds hollow melanosomes in platypus hairs, a first for mammals.
- Birds use hollow melanosomes to create iridescent colors; platypuses don’t display rainbow tones.
- Researchers compare platypus and echidna melanosomes to trace evolutionary differences.
- The study links hollow melanosomes to the platypus’s aquatic ancestry.
- The discovery adds to a lineup of platypus peculiarities, including venom and electroreception.
- The scientists used high-resolution microscopy to observe platypus melanosomes.
- The research appears in Biology Letters and involves researchers from Ghent University and collaborators.
- Platelets’ color evolution may hinge on ancient ecological shifts rather than current appearance.
- The team’s findings could prompt reevaluation of color mechanisms across mammals.
- The article notes platypus diversity and unusual traits as context for the discovery.
Vote 0