Hyperelongate ornamental tail feathers in a new early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird (IMAGE)
Caption
Rectrix feather structures: The cross-sectional structure of the proximal portion of a rectrix in (A) Antigone canadensis (Gruiformes, Gruidae) (WWH-16868), and a tail covert (tail fan) in (B) Pavo cristatus (Galliformes, Phasianidae), compared with that (C) of the known three-dimensional structure of enantiornithine rachis-dominated feathers (RDFs). (D) The inferred three-dimensional shape of Plumadraconis’ RDFs which changes down its length based on structural and color variations. Note how different structural dorsoventral thickness upon compression may affect color in a lithic specimen. Each sampled section down the length of the RDF is accompanied by a close-up photo of that portion of the feather to show differences in component color and width. Scale bar equals 50 mm. (Abbreviations: ba, barbs; db, differentiated barbs; ls, lateral stripe; ms, medial stripe; pfc, pith-filled center; ra, ramus; rs, ribbon-like sheet.)
Credit
Clark et al., 2026 link: https://plos.io/3PL4eOV
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator.
License
CC BY