X-SciTech

In living color: Ancient feathers preserved in amber

September 15, 2011 / 5:54 PM EDT / CBS News

Examples of ancient feathers ranging from the simple to the complex are now being studied. They were preserved in amber found in western Canada, researchers led by Ryan C. McKellar of the University of Alberta report in the journal Science.

6 clumped feather barbs found in Late Cretaceous amber specimen

Studying the remains captured in 70-million-year-old amber, paleontologists say the evidence points to a range of color and pattern diversity among ancient birds

In living color: Ancient feathers preserved in amber

6 clumped feather barbs found in Late Cretaceous amber specimen

Feather fragment trapped in a spider's web in Late Cretaceous Canadian amber

Feather barb without pigment and a mite in Canadian Late Cretaceous amber.

Microphysid plant bug with feather

Coiled bases of feather barbules

Feathers with pigment concentrations

Feather barb hints at the original color