Short Wave Some Dinos Had Feathers. Did They Fly?
14 snips
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.
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Dinosaur Feathers
- Many dinosaurs had feathers, discovered in the mid-90s from fossils in a Chinese lake.
- The feathers' melanosomes fossilized easily, revealing their colors and patterns.
Protofeather Purpose
- Smaller theropod dinosaurs likely had protofeathers for thermoregulation, similar to fur in mammals.
- Not all dinosaurs had the complex, pennaceous feathers seen in modern birds.
Birds Are Dinosaurs
- Birds are classified as dinosaurs, specifically theropod dinosaurs.
- Small feathered dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Microraptor closely resembled birds in plumage and soft tissues.