Happy Atheist Forum

General => Science => Topic started by: Amicale on April 05, 2012, 01:04:51 AM

Title: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: Amicale on April 05, 2012, 01:04:51 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17612354

QuoteYutyrannus lived long before T. rex, in the early Cretaceous Period


A newly described relative of Tyrannosaurus rex is the largest known feathered animal - living or extinct.

The feathered meat-eating dinosaur lived about 125 million years ago and is estimated to have weighed a whopping 1,400kg as an adult.

The new species, known as Yutyrannus, has been identified from three fossils found in north-eastern China..... rest at the link
Title: Re: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: Tank on April 05, 2012, 09:31:50 AM
Well there goes Jurassic Parks credibility  :D
Title: Re: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: joeactor on April 05, 2012, 05:39:54 PM
Interesting.

I wonder what purpose the feathers served?

Also, I wonder how the wings are with BBQ sauce...
Title: Re: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: Tank on April 05, 2012, 06:36:54 PM
Quote from: joeactor on April 05, 2012, 05:39:54 PM
Interesting.

I wonder what purpose the feathers served?

Also, I wonder how the wings are with BBQ sauce...
Apart from flight feathers insulate and often form part of a species sexual dimorphism. It has been theorised that dinosaurs were warm blooded so insulation would be a good thing. Ostriches can't fly, are warm blooded and highly sexually dimorphic.   
Title: Re: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: joeactor on April 05, 2012, 06:51:18 PM
Quote from: Tank on April 05, 2012, 06:36:54 PM
Quote from: joeactor on April 05, 2012, 05:39:54 PM
Interesting.

I wonder what purpose the feathers served?

Also, I wonder how the wings are with BBQ sauce...
Apart from flight feathers insulate and often form part of a species sexual dimorphism. It has been theorised that dinosaurs were warm blooded so insulation would be a good thing. Ostriches can't fly, are warm blooded and highly sexually dimorphic.   

makes sense... didn't realize ostriches were warm-blooded.  I assume emu's are also...
Title: Re: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: Tank on April 05, 2012, 06:52:58 PM
Quote from: joeactor on April 05, 2012, 06:51:18 PM
Quote from: Tank on April 05, 2012, 06:36:54 PM
Quote from: joeactor on April 05, 2012, 05:39:54 PM
Interesting.

I wonder what purpose the feathers served?

Also, I wonder how the wings are with BBQ sauce...
Apart from flight feathers insulate and often form part of a species sexual dimorphism. It has been theorised that dinosaurs were warm blooded so insulation would be a good thing. Ostriches can't fly, are warm blooded and highly sexually dimorphic.   

makes sense... didn't realize ostriches were warm-blooded.  I assume emu's are also...

Birds are thought to have descended from dinosaurs and are all warm blooded, so yes.
Title: Re: Feathered T-Rex Relative
Post by: Crow on April 05, 2012, 11:38:58 PM
Quote from: Tank on April 05, 2012, 06:52:58 PM
Birds are thought to have descended from dinosaurs and are all warm blooded, so yes.

Yup, Building a dinosaur from a chicken (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVXdEOiCw8) is one of my favorite TED talks about the subject.