. | . |
Feathered tail of baby dinosaur found preserved in amber by Brooks Hays Beijing (UPI) Dec 8, 2016
Scientists have discovered the featured tail of a baby dinosaur preserved in amber. Though dinosaur feathers have been found in amber before, the discovery marks the first time bone, soft tissue and feathers have been found together. Researchers believe the 99 million-year-old tail belonged to a juvenile coelurosaur, a kind of theropod dinosaur. The scientists described their discovery and analysis of the preserved tail in a new paper, published this week in the journal Current Biology. The dinosaur's densely packed -- but not well-structured -- feathers weren't useful for flight; researchers hypothesize they were used for temperature regulation or communication. The nature of the feathers and their relationship to the tail bone served as proof of the tail's owner -- a dinosaur, not a prehistoric bird. "We can be sure of the source because the vertebrae are not fused into a rod or pygostyle as in modern birds and their closest relatives," study co-author Ryan McKellar, a curator at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Canada, said in a news release. "Instead, the tail is long and flexible, with keels of feathers running down each side." The amber sample was procured by Lida Xing, a paleontologist from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, at an amber market in Myitkyina, Myanmar, in 2015. "I have studied paleontology for more than 10 years and have been interested in dinosaurs for more than 30 years," Xing told NPR of the initial moment of discovery. "But I never expected we could find a dinosaur in amber. This may be the coolest find in my life. The feathers on the tail are so dense and regular, this is really wonderful." How exactly feathers evolved remains the matter of considerable debate, but the latest findings help clarify the evolutionary timeline. The features found on the preserved tail resemble decorative feathers. Feathers used for flight typically featured a strong central shaft with branches and subbranches. The smaller subbranches feature hooks that bind the feather together. The feathers in the amber feature hook-like shapes, but they are floppy, loosely organized and without a central stem. Thus, the latest discovery suggests the hooked barbules came first and the stronger hollow shaft came later.
Related Links Explore The Early Earth at TerraDaily.com
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |