Whoa! T-rex Had Feathers!

camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
<div class="IPBDescription">"protofeathers" discovere</div> <a href='http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1321207,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,...1321207,00.html</a>

<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Tyrannosaurus rex may have had a coat of fluffy feathers.

This conclusion comes from US and Chinese scientists who today announce the discovery of a 130m-year-old forerunner of the lumbering Cretaceous predator.

Dilong paradoxus - its generic name comes from the Mandarin for emperor and dragon, and its species name from its unusual features - was the size of a turkey, had a single nose bone, a massive jaw, a long neck, and hands with three fingers.

Mark Norell of the American Museum of Natural History, Xing Xu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other colleagues report in Nature that its fossils were unearthed in Liaoning province in China.

Dilong is the most primitive of the tyrannosaurid family found so far. But what shook the discoverers was that the region's unique volcanic ash and sandy muds preserved not just the skeleton but also some soft tissue - and the first direct evidence that tyrannosaurs had feathers, or at least branching structures an inch long called protofeathers.

Theropods, predator dinosaurs, share 100 or more anatomical features with modern birds - a wishbone, swivelling wrists, three forward-pointing toes, and so on. In eight years, Liaoning has repeatedly yielded evidence of feathers as well. There is a strong belief birds evolved from egg-laying, young-nursing dinosaurs. But feathers would emerge initially as a way of regulating body temperature. It suggests the ferocious T-rex may have had a fluffy coat at some stage in its life. "The discovery of protofeathers ... provides even more evidence of the shared evolutionary features between non-avian dinosaurs and living birds," said Dr Norell.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There's a related article @ national geographic. check out the pics:
<a href='http://www.nationalgeographic.com/events/99/feather/' target='_blank'>http://www.nationalgeographic.com/events/99/feather/</a>
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Comments

  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    edited October 2004
    Pretty nifty. I don't know how it'd look with them, so I'd prefer seeing it without them.
  • SnidelySnidely Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13098Members
    Thanks for ruining my childhood memories. T-Rexes with feathers? Pffft.
  • docchimpydocchimpy Join Date: 2003-07-19 Member: 18266Members
    edited October 2004
    Old news.






    <i>Prehistoric</i>, even.

    AHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Get it? Old? PREHISTORIC? Huh? Huh?

    I'll go to the corner now.

    Weird though. Oh well, we didn't even know about Dinosaurs till the late 1800s (I think) , so it's nothing surprising that our knowledge of them is changing.
  • RatonetwothreetwooneRatonetwothreetwoone Join Date: 2004-03-23 Member: 27504Members
    pffft dinosaurs never existed
  • TequilaTequila Join Date: 2003-08-13 Member: 19660Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Rat12321+Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rat12321 @ Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> pffft dinosaurs never existed <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish rats never existed.
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Tequila+Oct 7 2004, 04:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Tequila @ Oct 7 2004, 04:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Rat12321+Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rat12321 @ Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> pffft dinosaurs never existed <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish rats never existed. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish idiots never existed, but then again what would we do without Nexus and Smartbomb?
  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Rat12321+Oct 7 2004, 05:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rat12321 @ Oct 7 2004, 05:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> pffft dinosaurs never existed <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    CREATIONIST ALERT BURN THE IGNORANCE OUT OF HIM
  • camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
    Thread implosion alert.
  • EEKEEK Join Date: 2004-02-25 Member: 26898Banned
    edited October 2004
    <img src='http://wso.williams.edu/images/notfound/bitters.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

    <span style='font-size:17pt;line-height:100%'>Dreams Eventually Lead To Hideous Implosions...</span>


    Anyway, I couldn't tell much from those pictures on the fossil... except the UV thing was pretty cool. Where they're seeing feathers...
  • POOP_AkiraPOOP_Akira Join Date: 2003-11-23 Member: 23468Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-EEK+Oct 7 2004, 06:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (EEK @ Oct 7 2004, 06:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <img src='http://wso.williams.edu/images/notfound/bitters.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

    <span style='font-size:17pt;line-height:100%'>Dreams Eventually Lead To Hideous Implosions...</span>


    Anyway, I couldn't tell much from those pictures on the fossil... except the UV thing was pretty cool. Where they're seeing feathers... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Hehehe... "And what did we learn today class...?"

    Anyway the "Dinosaur" bones are just the remenants of alien picnics.
  • Nil_IQNil_IQ Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15520Members
    OMG ITS A T-REX, RUN!

    <img src='http://www.intothewoods.us/HikerMama/hen2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

    Do you see the murder in its eyes?
  • V_MANV_MAN V-MAN Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 6217Members, Constellation
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Liku+Oct 8 2004, 12:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Liku @ Oct 8 2004, 12:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Tequila+Oct 7 2004, 04:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Tequila @ Oct 7 2004, 04:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Rat12321+Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rat12321 @ Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> pffft dinosaurs never existed <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish rats never existed. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish idiots never existed, but then again what would we do without Nexus and Smartbomb? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish Islam never existed or if it did it was about 1000 years older than it is now
  • TequilaTequila Join Date: 2003-08-13 Member: 19660Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Liku+Oct 8 2004, 12:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Liku @ Oct 8 2004, 12:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Tequila+Oct 7 2004, 04:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Tequila @ Oct 7 2004, 04:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Rat12321+Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rat12321 @ Oct 7 2004, 11:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> pffft dinosaurs never existed <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish rats never existed. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I wish idiots never existed, but then again what would we do without Nexus and Smartbomb? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Waste away. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • Mr_FuriousMr_Furious Join Date: 2004-07-09 Member: 29810Members
    feathers.... hah, just image jurassic park with a 20 foot rooster

    "oh god, here it comes...RRUUUNNN"

    "bok, bok, bok, *peck* *peck* *peck

    "AHHH my eyes, ow, ow, ow, get away big chicken"
  • RaVeRaVe Join Date: 2003-06-20 Member: 17538Members
    T-Rex with feathers?!

    I wouldn't be surprised if the next finding shows that the feathers were a 'manly' pink o_O;
  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    Proto-feathers about an inch long = not looking like a turkey or chicken.



    <span style='color:orange'>UltimaGecko has ruined the fun, and feels bad.</span>
  • camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
    you stupid people and your facts.
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Xyth+Oct 7 2004, 05:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Xyth @ Oct 7 2004, 05:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Are you afraid yet?! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    LMAO!
  • ThE_HeRoThE_HeRo Join Date: 2003-01-25 Member: 12723Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Mr. Furious+Oct 7 2004, 06:44 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mr. Furious @ Oct 7 2004, 06:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> feathers.... hah, just image jurassic park with a 20 foot rooster

    "oh god, here it comes...RRUUUNNN"

    "bok, bok, bok, *peck* *peck* *peck

    "AHHH my eyes, ow, ow, ow, get away big chicken" <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It seems the kid in jurassic park was right....
  • MulletMullet Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15910Members, Constellation
    Velociraptor pwns T-Rex and doesn't need to make a fashion statement. gg k thnx.
  • BloodySlothBloodySloth Join Date: 2003-08-27 Member: 20284Members
    except that velociraptor also had feathers and was about 3 feet tall.
  • Cold_NiTeCold_NiTe Join Date: 2003-09-15 Member: 20875Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Liku+Oct 7 2004, 07:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Liku @ Oct 7 2004, 07:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Xyth+Oct 7 2004, 05:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Xyth @ Oct 7 2004, 05:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Are you afraid yet?! <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    LMAO! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Quoted for emphasis.

    And yes, don't ruin the fun UltimaGecko, you fun-ruiner. Go back to your cage of common-sense.

    BTW; CWAG, that was pretty random.
  • FrikkFrikk Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 3164Members, Constellation
    You know that Velociraptors were really rather small right? Jurassic Park portrayed them incorrectly. Utahraptors are more the right size. Also, if the Tyrannosaur had feathers, a dinosaur closer to the Archyopterix, the first dinosaur with well defined feathers, like the Dromaeosaurs (Utahraptor, Velociraptor, Deinonychus, etc.) would most defiantly have feathers.

    [/wants to be a Vertebrate Paleontologist]
  • Cold_NiTeCold_NiTe Join Date: 2003-09-15 Member: 20875Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Frikk+Oct 7 2004, 10:42 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Frikk @ Oct 7 2004, 10:42 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You know that Velociraptors were really rather small right? Jurassic Park portrayed them incorrectly. Utahraptors are more the right size. Also, if the Tyrannosaur had feathers, a dinosaur closer to the Archyopterix, the first dinosaur with well defined feathers, like the Dromaeosaurs (Utahraptor, Velociraptor, Deinonychus, etc.) would most defiantly have feathers. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Actually, that was helpful, and pretty informative.

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[/wants to be a Vertebrate Paleontologist]<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    That explains your hilarious sig pic.
  • LikuLiku I, am the Somberlain. Join Date: 2003-01-10 Member: 12128Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-ThE HeRo+Oct 7 2004, 06:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ThE HeRo @ Oct 7 2004, 06:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It seems the kid in jurassic park was right.... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If I remember correctly, he called the Velociraptor's Turkeys.
  • Har_Har_the_PirateHar_Har_the_Pirate Join Date: 2003-08-10 Member: 19388Members, Constellation
    so does this mean we can start eating t-rex for thanks giving?
  • CplDavisCplDavis I hunt the arctic Snonos Join Date: 2003-01-09 Member: 12097Members
    perhaps the long lost ancestor of the Onos had feathers.


    <!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' /><!--endemo--> aww look at that cute fluffy OHNOES!!! AHHHHH <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • JefeJefe Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15734Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Xyth+Oct 7 2004, 06:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Xyth @ Oct 7 2004, 06:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Are you afraid yet?! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yes

    so afraid
  • eedioteediot Join Date: 2003-02-24 Member: 13903Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Frikk+Oct 8 2004, 01:42 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Frikk @ Oct 8 2004, 01:42 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You know that Velociraptors were really rather small right?  Jurassic Park portrayed them incorrectly.  Utahraptors are more the right size.  Also, if the Tyrannosaur had feathers, a dinosaur closer to the Archyopterix, the first dinosaur with well defined feathers, like the Dromaeosaurs (Utahraptor, Velociraptor, Deinonychus, etc.) would most defiantly have feathers.

    [/wants to be a Vertebrate Paleontologist] <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    So how big would a velocirapter be? If i was fast enough [and built], would I be able to punch one out?

    You know.. for future reference...

    Edit: Uh, now I really really really really want to see Jurassic Park redone with arnie going around protecting his hot, accessible daughter [eliza dushku.. awesome], and punching out dinosaurs and setting up elaborate traps, and basically killing the entire bloody dinosaur population on the island before he sets off a bomb and flies out
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