[Boiler Plate]

Methinks BP is making a common assumption here in regards to feathered dinosaurs. Dinosaurs were not true reptiles. There is strong evidence they were warm blooded or sem-warm blooded. Reptiles are cold blooded. The flying reptiles BP refers to were the pterosaurs. However, they may not have been true reptiles either, as there is strong evidence they were fur covered, which indicates they also required insulation. The feathered dinosaurs gave rise to modern birds (feathers originated for insulation purposes, not flying; they were simply adapted for the latter). The truly-flying reptiles (to distinguish them from gliding reptiles, which can be found even today) went extinct, possibly out-competed by the early birds.

Junior,

I can't really ask how many feathered dinosaurs are still around can I, seeing as there are none, except of course Nessie.

Well maybe I can ask, but the answer either way is zero. Why is that? Shouldn't there have been some other use for feathers other than for flying? Or did our little therapods just start jumping out trees till they started growing feathers. At which point they started flying instead of hitting the ground. Still they needed to work out that landing thing sooner or later. Kinda reminds you of that show "Greatest American Hero" where Ralph Hinkley keeps crash landing. Now that was a hoot.

Regards,
Boiler Plate

P.S. be careful with that "methinks" stuff you might hurt yourself, or even worse turn into a European.

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

Additionally, they had to simultaneously develop hollow bones, a different lung system, brain modifications, flight muscles, dietary modifications, new digestive and excretory systems, flight feathers, new behavioral instincts and many other things related to aeronautical engineering.

Yep, the randomness of evolution is amazingly creative. /sarcasm off

[js1138]

Shouldn't there have been some other use for feathers other than for flying?

[Junior]

Shouldn't there have been some other use for feathers other than for flying?

Dear, dear, dear. I guess you really haven't been following the conversation. Feathers were originally for insulation. Only later did they come in handy for flying.