In addition to primitive feathers, theropod dinosaurs—the dinosaurs most closely linked to birds—share more than 100 anatomical features with modern birds and have similar bone growth rate patterns.
And they share these traits most closely with dromaeosaurs and troodontids, said Padian.
Microraptor, for instance, is the smallest dromaeosaur yet found at about 16 inches (41 centimeters) long, and although it did not fly, it had some bird-like features, including teeth resembling those of early birds, a similar hip structure, and feather-like structures.
Dinosaur Treasure Trove
The full identification of the two species that comprised the fossil should be the final chapter of the Archaeoraptor debacle.
"The really unfortunate aspect of the Archaeoraptor forgery was that it was used to suggest that other feathered dinosaur fossils were also faked, and added a layer of confusion to public understanding that shouldn't be there," said Clarke.
"There's an abundant amount of evidence that the lineage leading to birds is nested in Dinosauria," she said. "There are many feathered flying and non-flying dinosaur fossils from these two regions that are not forgeries."
Liaoning Province in northern China has proved to be a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils. Hundreds of specimens have been found of insects, plants, fish, frogs, turtles, lizards, and early mammals in addition to birds and feathered dinosaurs. The region was ideally suited for preserving fossils; volcanic eruptions spewed ash into shallow rivers and streams, quickly burying animals that died or fell in the water under a layer of sediment.
Padian hopes the Archaeoraptor episode will serve as a wake-up call.
"The lesson in this should be the importance of conserving fossils and protecting them," said Padian. "Chinese villagers who found the specimen don't make a lot of money, and they don't know what these animals look like. There was no hoax. These are poor people trying to make a little extra money by selling fossils on the black market."
It's illegal to export fossils out of China, but a thriving black market exists, driven by poverty, powered by bribery, and feeding a seemingly inexhaustible desire for fossils among hobbyists.
Huge quantities of fossils are illegally excavated and smuggled out each year. And no wonder; the Archaeoraptor fossil sold in the United States for $80,000.
This is an internationally important region," said Padian. "The workers there are very poor; if they were better rewarded for working with scientists there would be no need to enhance the fossils, or for a black market at all. The international community needs to take steps to protect these fossils."
|
SOURCES AND RELATED WEB SITES
|
