Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Living dinosaurs
abc.net.au ^ | 9/30/2002

Posted on 10/01/2002 8:32:43 AM PDT by SteveH

News in Science

News in Science

News in Science 30/9/2002 Living dinosaurs

[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s687677.htm]



Sinosauropteryx sprima

Model of Sinosauropteryx sprima (pronounced 'sine-oh-saw-op-te-rix pree-ma')made by Alan Groves working with palaeontologists Drs Walter Boles and Sue Hand.
 

If we are to believe the message of a new exhibit demonstrating the evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds, dinosaurs are not extinct.

Four life-sized reconstructions of ferocious-looking, smart-thinking, flesh-eating feathered dinosaurs – representing 125 million-year-old missing links between dinosaurs and birds – have landed at the Australian Museum in Sydney as part of the Chinese Dinosaurs exhibition.

"The birds we see flying around our backyards are actually living dinosaurs, descendants of prehistoric beasts we all once presumed became extinct 65 million years ago," said museum director, Professor Mike Archer.

"But feathers were evolving as dinosaur attributes long before they became valuable as flight structures," he said.

"Indeed fossils uncovered in the Liaoning Province of China have provided a whole sequence of missing links in the dinosaur to bird story."

Sinornithosaurus smillenii
Model of Sinornithosaurus smillenii (pronounced 'sine-or-nith-oh-saw-rus mill-en-ee-eye) made by Alan Groves working with palaeontologists Drs Walter Boles and Sue Hand.
 
One of the earlier links is Sinosauropteryx prima. The creature is covered with what looks to be a fine fuzz but are really small barbs – a link between scales and feathers.

"It's a metre-long, meat-eating, ground-dwelling predator, closely related to the dinosaur in Jurassic Park II which ate the little girl on the beach," said Professor Archer.

He speculated these very early feathers were probably for insulation since this group was almost certainly warm blooded.

The Sinornithosaurus millenii (top picture) embodies a later link.

"This is a very vicious little predator about a metre long. But here the feathers are much larger – although they're not fully formed or capable of flight," said Professor Archer.

An interesting characteristic of the creature was its capacity to lift its arms over its head in a flapping motion. Professor Archer said scientists assumed its array of feathers had a purpose – to frighten predators, help capture prey, attract mates or threaten male competitors.

The next stage – the development of feathers for flight – is seen in creatures like the Archseopteryx, a smaller animal than Sinornithosaurus millenii with longer and assymetrical feathers.

While there has been some debate as to whether dinosaurs (unlike other groups of reptiles) are the ancestors of birds, Professor Archer believes since 1996 there has been no strong argument against the hypothesis.

"I don't know anyone who is still holding out on this one," he said. "Other than the creationists of course who don't want anything to be ancestral to birds."

Chinese Dinosaurs is open until February next year. The dino-bird exhibit is sponsored by The Australian Skeptics.

Anna Salleh - ABC Science Online

More Info?


British Natural History Museum Dino-Birds Exhibition


Missing link from fur to feathers – News in Science 27/4/2001


Dinosaur fossil with proto-feathers – News in Science 8/3/2001


Dinosaur-bird theory defended – News in Science 24/11/2000





© ABC 2002 | privacy


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: birds; crevolist; dinosaurs; evolution; paleontology
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 601-602 next last
maybe some of these evolved into chupacabras too... :-)
1 posted on 10/01/2002 8:32:43 AM PDT by SteveH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SteveH
maybe some of these evolved into chupacabras too... :-)

more likely democrats

2 posted on 10/01/2002 8:42:25 AM PDT by Revelation 911
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
When I first glanced at this title I thought it was an article about Babs most recent escape from retirement.
3 posted on 10/01/2002 8:42:49 AM PDT by What Is Ain't
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
The velcro-covered skin was an advantage during mating.
4 posted on 10/01/2002 8:55:57 AM PDT by mcsparkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
Was the Dodo Bird a dinasaur?
5 posted on 10/01/2002 8:57:41 AM PDT by bert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
Do I look extinct to you guys?




6 posted on 10/01/2002 9:02:54 AM PDT by sinclair
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
I still think that my cat is descended from the dinosaur..raptors to be specific:


7 posted on 10/01/2002 9:03:49 AM PDT by mass55th
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
T-Rex to hummingbird?

Talk about a demotion.

8 posted on 10/01/2002 9:11:50 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH

Theadorus Kennedii in its native habitat in Hyannis, 1998

9 posted on 10/01/2002 9:13:17 AM PDT by pabianice
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: piltdownpig
There isn't any way to have an arm evolve into a wing, much less down/insulation feathers evolve into flight feathers.

Flying squirrels manage to glide a bit from flaps of skin attached to their arms and legs

A predator who could reach up over his head would be able to climb up a tree, where he could hide and leap down onto the back of prey passing underneath. A smaller predator could bring down a larger prey if he could jump on it from above and get his teeth into the back of its neck before the prey realized what was happening

A pouncing-from-above predator would get a big advantage from any ability to glide on the way down.

11 posted on 10/01/2002 9:32:24 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
read later
12 posted on 10/01/2002 9:39:58 AM PDT by LiteKeeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SauronOfMordor
A pouncing-from-above predator would get a big advantage from any ability to glide on the way down.

This is why squirrels are not to be trusted.

13 posted on 10/01/2002 9:47:08 AM PDT by mcsparkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
"It's a metre-long, meat-eating, ground-dwelling predator, closely related to the dinosaur in Jurassic Park II which ate the little girl on the beach," said Professor Archer.

I am really glad I decided to skip that movie. I want to be entertained, not horrified. What a bunch of sick creeps dream up this garbage?

14 posted on 10/01/2002 9:51:14 AM PDT by hopespringseternal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: What Is Ain't
"When I first glanced at this title I thought it was an article about Babs most recent escape from retirement."

Your first thought SHOULD have been about Walter Kronkite.

Michael

15 posted on 10/01/2002 9:55:09 AM PDT by Wright is right!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry; Quila; Rudder; donh; VadeRetro; RadioAstronomer; Travis McGee; Physicist; ...
((((((growl)))))



16 posted on 10/01/2002 10:00:20 AM PDT by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
Thanks for the ping.
17 posted on 10/01/2002 10:09:33 AM PDT by Gumlegs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
Jeopardy Question:

Answer: " Living Dinosaurs "
Question: Who Are DIFI,Barbara Boxer and #42?

18 posted on 10/01/2002 10:12:01 AM PDT by Pagey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveH
See also New Dino Resembles T. Rex, B. Bunny.
19 posted on 10/01/2002 10:24:11 AM PDT by SteveH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sabertooth
Nice compilation. Some of the links are interesting, too. This QuickTime Movie of how what they're now calling "fuzzyraptor" used its feathered forearms, just for instance.
20 posted on 10/01/2002 10:25:40 AM PDT by VadeRetro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 601-602 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson