Posted on 10/08/2004 12:30:38 PM PDT by Area Freeper
The earliest known relative of the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex had primitive feathers, probably to help it keep warm.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing found the remains of the early tyrannosauroid which roamed the earth between 139 and 128 million years ago, in western Liaoning, China, an area rich in fossil remains.
"This provides the first direct fossil evidence that tyrannosauroids had protofeathers," Xing Xu, one of the scientists, said in a report in the science journal Nature.
The primitive feathers were found on the remains of a dinosaur called Dilong paradoxus, which was about 1.5 yards long. It is the first member of the T-rex family with the characteristic.
But Xu said fossil records of T-rex indicate the giant beast had scales, which suggests that because of its huge size, it didn't need primitive feathers to keep warm.
He added that some large mammals such as elephants lose most of their body hairs as they mature.
"This therefore supports the hypothesis that the original function of protofeathers is correlated with thermoregulation," Xu added.
I am still trying to figure out how dinosaurs fit in with creation and animals and man..... I guess IF I make it to heaven I can ask God. Don't get behind me in line, I will be there a while. What, when, where, how, and WHY? I hope God doesn't just lose patience with me and BOOT me out!
But you're too young and don't look ANYTHING like a T. Rex!
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