Short Wave
Some Dinos Had Feathers. Did They Fly?
Jan 15, 2025
Jingmai O'Connor, a paleobiologist and curator at the Field Museum, sheds light on the striking relationship between dinosaurs and birds. She reveals that many dinosaurs, like Velociraptor, sported feathers much like modern birds. The discussion dives into the evolutionary significance of these feathers, how they helped some dinosaurs take to the skies, and how specific adaptations allowed birds to thrive after the mass extinction. Fascinating insights into the colors and structures of ancient feathers highlight our understanding of these remarkable creatures.
13:18
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Quick takeaways
- Many dinosaurs, particularly theropods, had feathers similar to birds, reshaping our understanding of their appearance and evolution.
- The evolution of flight in feathered dinosaurs was complex, occurring across multiple lineages rather than from a single ancestor.
Deep dives
Discovering Dinosaur Feathers
Research has revealed that many dinosaurs had feathers, challenging the traditional imagery of dinosaurs as scaly creatures. Fossils discovered in China during the mid-1990s showed exceptional preservation due to the lake bottom burial, primarily featuring feather remnants. These feathers, composed of keratin, can still retain their pigmentation through melanosomes, allowing paleontologists to infer the colors of these prehistoric animals. The understanding of feathers has evolved, with distinctions made between primitive protofeathers and more developed, modern feathers found in certain theropods.
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