UCC scientists reveal fossilised snake’s colour

Irish scientists have made a significant breakthrough by determining the colours of a fossilised snake which died more than 10m years ago.

The discovery will open the way for research into the evolution and function of colour in animals and is regarded as such a significant breakthrough that it was reported yesterday by the international journal Cell Biology.

The colourless fossil of a Spanish snake was analysed by a team of UCC scientists led by Maria McNamara, who found that, depending on their condition, some fossils can retain evidence of skin colour.