Voigt on Longisquama

["Jaime A. Headden" <qilongia@yahoo.com>]

Voigt et al.s paper on the *Longisquama* appendages is finally out.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/365408287l2v655x/


Voigt, S., M. Buchwitz, J. Fischer, D. Krause and R. Geordi. 2008. Feather-like 
development of Triassic diapsid skin appendages. _Naturwissenschaften_ 
96(1):81-86.

Abstract:

 "Of the recent sauropsid skin appendage types, only feathers develop from
  a cylindrical epidermal invagination, the follicle, and show
  hierarchical branching. Fossilized integuments of Mesozoic diapsids have
  been interpreted as follicular and potential feather homologues, an idea
  particularly controversially discussed for the elongate dorsal skin
  projections of the small diapsid *Longisquama insignis* from the
  Triassic of Kyrgyzstan. Based on new finds and their comparison with the
  type material, we show that Longisquamaâs appendages consist of a single-
  branched internal frame enclosed by a flexible outer membrane. Not
  supporting a categorization either as feathers or as scales, our
  analysis demonstrates that the Longisquama appendages formed in a
  two-stage, feather-like developmental process, representing an unusual
  early example for the evolutionary plasticity of sauropsid integument."

  Supplementary information is included, and is located here:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/365408287l2v655x/114_2008_Article_453_ESM.html

  (Note: The link above may be broken. Cut and paste if it is.)

  Cheers,

Jaime A. Headden

"Innocent, unbiased observation is a myth." --- P.B. Medawar (1969)