Feathered fossils prove birds evolved from dinosaurs, say Chinese scientists

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 7:13 PM on 25th September 2009

 

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A new species of feathered dinosaurs provides hard evidence the prehistoric creatures evolved into birds, a group of Chinese scientists has claimed.

 

The team - lead by the man dubbed the 'real-life Indiana Jones' - say the fossils represent five different species from two different rock sequences in north-eastern China. All the species have feathers or feather-like structures.

The new finds are 'indisputably' older than archaeopteryx, the oldest known bird, which scientists claim provides exceptional evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs.

 

Discovery: An illustration of a feathered dinosaur, Anchiornis huxleyi. Its fossils were found in China

 

 

The theory that birds evolved from dinosaurs has always been troubled by the absence of feathers more ancient than those on the famous archaeopteryx.

Addressing the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists (SVP) in Bristol, Dr Xu Xing, one of the lead scientists behind the discovery, said: 'These exceptional fossils provide us with evidence that has been missing until now. Now it all fits neatly into place and we have tied up some of the loose ends.'

The oldest bird, archaeopteryx, was older than the feathered dinosaurs previously found. Therefore, critics claimed, feathered dinosaurs could not have been ancestral to birds.

 

The fossils can be identified as follows: A - Skull and jaw bone, B - tail bone, C - Neck bone and right shoulder-blade, D - Left forelimb, E - Right forelimb, F - Left hindlimb. The other photos show fossils of the feathers found on various parts of the dinosaur's body

 

 

 

Remains: The newly discovered ancient bird fossil (above) found in China which scientists believe proves birds evolved from dinosaurs. The corresponding parts of the bird are shown below

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dangers Dr Xing faces while searching for dinosaur fossils in some of the remotest regions of China have led him to be compared to Indiana Jones, the fictional archaeologist and action hero played by Harrison Ford.

His latest fossils were found in two separate rock formations - the tiaojishan, which would put the fossils at 168 to 151 million years old, and the daohugou formation, which would make them 164 to 158 million years old.

Archaeopteryx lived 150 to 145 million years ago, so was significantly younger than these new dinosaurs, Dr Xing's team said.

One of the dinosaurs, named anchiornis huxleyi has extensive plumage and profusely feathered feet.

Dr Xing said it had provided important new information on the origins of birds and the evolution of feathers.

He said: 'This fossil provides confirmation that the bird-dinosaur hypothesis is correct and supports the idea that birds descended from theropod dinosaurs, the group of predatory dinosaurs that include allosaurus and velociraptor.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1215998/Feathered-fossils-prove-birds-evolved-dinosaurs-say-Chinese-scientists.html#ixzz0S9P4tvRI

I already knew they did tbh.

I already knew they did tbh.

 

I think you'll find that totally contradicts something you said some months back.:rolleyes:

How?

Oooh, awesome! Looks very much like a Microraptor. All these great transitional bird-dinos coming out of China! :dance: So wish I could have gone to SVP this year, but Bristol is so far away. :\

 

edit: I'm still trying to figure out how I missed this story yesterday only to find it on Coldplaying... :confused: worlds collide!!