Ancient Frog Fossil Unveils Toxic Red Hair Pigment

Paleontologists have discovered traces of the toxic pigment that causes red hair, known as pheomelanin, in 10 million-year-old frog fossils. The preserved fragments of pheomelanin, which produces ginger-colored hair, were found in liver tissues of the ancient amphibians. The study pushes the boundaries of what information can be obtained from fossils and provides insights into the evolution of different pigments in ancient animals. Scientists are still investigating why pheomelanin evolved despite its toxicity to animals.