[VadeRetro]

It's not terribly shattering if there was a coelurosaur with no feathers. Not all of the traits that define a group have to appear at the same time. Traits can disappear. There's a mammal called a pangolin that has scales all over its body. Is that a problem for evolution or an atavism that points to a reptilian origin for mammals?

[MineralMan]

"There's a mammal called a pangolin that has scales all over its body."

Yup, and there are several mammals that lay eggs, too. The pangolin looks something like those old extinct mammals that nobody pays much attention to.

The American Museum of Natural History has an entire room of huge, bizarre mammal fossils. It's an interesting look into the not so distant past.

[The_Victor]

It's not terribly shattering if there was a coelurosaur with no feathers. Not all of the traits that define a group have to appear at the same time. Traits can disappear.

And, of course, there are evolutionary cul-de-sacs too. Fitting the piece into the puzzle correctly is the key.

[Coyoteman]

It's not terribly shattering if there was a coelurosaur with no feathers. Not all of the traits that define a group have to appear at the same time. Traits can disappear. There's a mammal called a pangolin that has scales all over its body. Is that a problem for evolution or an atavism that points to a reptilian origin for mammals?

It is amazing the glee in some posters' eyes when scientists admit either that they made a mistake or have learned something they didn't know.

But science does not fear new data. Individual scientists may cling to pet theories, but that only lasts for a few years. When an idea is right, with the right combination of data and theory, nothing can hold it back. When mistakes are made, science figures out what went wrong, corrects the mistake, and moves on.

I think that some of those expressing the most glee are secretly both envious and afraid of science. The next new discovery could cause them to doubt a cherished belief.

[MineralMan]

Here's a pangolin. We might also think about the Armadillo, another armored mammal: