In this paper Valentina Rossi and colleagues report melanin-based colour patterning in a fossil moonfish from the Eocene Monte Bolca locality from Italy. The specimen reveals that moonfish had different colour patterns to its living counterparts, suggesting a change in ecology from open marine to reef settings and associated changes in diet and in the genes that control colour patterning.

Maria is joined by new PhD student Aaron Quigley as part of the project.

Pterosaur discovery solves ancient feather mystery: flying reptiles could change the colour of their feathers, research finds

Ireland’s Fossil Heritage has been busy visiting primary schools to deliver our interactive STEM workshops.

We have officially launched the first-ever National Fossil Art Contest!

Maria was recently interviewed for the Unravelling Science Podcast, on “Episode 41: Prof Maria McNamara: Paleontology, Fossils and The Natural World”.

Maria was invited to be a keynote speaker recently at the 3rd Palaeontological Virtual Congress!

UCC wishes to appoint an experienced academic to the role of Lecturer in Palaeontology within the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. 

Maria spoke about the history of feathered dinosaurs.

Here we use taphonomic experiments to show that the chemistry of melanosomes from different tissues converges during maturation – in particular, Cu signals become more homogeneous.