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'Modern' feathers on a non-avian dinosaur

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Norell

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Qiang Ji

    (Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences)

  • Keqin Gao

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Chongxi Yuan

    (Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences)

  • Yibin Zhao

    (Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Land and Resources)

  • Lixia Wang

    (Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Land and Resources)

Abstract

Discoveries of integumentary coverings on non-avian theropod dinosaurs are becoming commonplace1,2,3. But the only definitive evidence so far that any of these animals had feathers as we know them today has come from the oviraptorosaur Caudipteryx2,4,5 and the enigmatic coleurosaur Protarchaeopteryx2, both of which are considered by some to be secondarily flightless birds6,7. Here we describe the occurrence of pinnate feathers, which clearly feature a rachis and barbs, on a small, non-avian dromaeosaur from northern China. This finding indicates that feathers of modern aspect evolved in dinosaurs before the emergence of birds and flight.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Norell & Qiang Ji & Keqin Gao & Chongxi Yuan & Yibin Zhao & Lixia Wang, 2002. "'Modern' feathers on a non-avian dinosaur," Nature, Nature, vol. 416(6876), pages 36-37, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:416:y:2002:i:6876:d:10.1038_416036a
    DOI: 10.1038/416036a
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