Typically, animal skin appendages including hair, feathers, and scales are controlled by specific genes when an embryo is developing. There are some exceptions to this rule–including in crocodile ...

The newly described Mirasaura grauvogeli from the Middle Triassic had a striking feather-like crest, hinting that complex skin appendages arose far earlier than previously believed. Its bird-like ...

Body coverings such as hair and feathers have played a central role in evolution. They enabled warm-bloodedness by insulating the body, and were used for courtship, display, deterrence of enemies and, ...