Page:Countershading and Stripes in the Theropod Dinosaur Sinosauropteryx Reveal Heterogeneous Habitats in the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota.pdf/1



Authors Fiann M. Smithwick, Robert Nicholls,  Innes C. Cuthill,  and Jakob Vinther

School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK

Palaeocreations, 35 Hopps Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9QQ, UK

School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK

Lead Contact

Correspondence jakob.vinther@bristol.ac.uk

In Brief Smithwick et al. reconstruct the coloration of the small carnivorous dinosaur Sinosauropteryx. It had a bandit mask and striped tail and was also countershaded (see ). Using 3D models under different light, the authors show that its camouflage would have worked best in an open habitat. Paleocolor can help predict paleohabitat.

Highlights Smithwick et al., 2017, Current Biology 27, 3337–3343 November 6, 2017 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.09.032
 * We have reconstructed the color pattern of the theropod dinosaur Sinosauropteryx
 * Sinosauropteryx exhibited camouflage, including countershading and a bandit mask
 * The countershading pattern was most likely associated with an open habitat
 * Previously assumed to be forested, Jehol likely included a range of habitat types