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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Photo: First Dinosaur Feathers for Show, Not Flight?


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The new dinosaur species Epidexipteryx hui had long, ribbon-like tail feathers and a body covered with short plumage, as seen in an artist's rendering.

The pigeon-size dino, one of the oldest known bird relatives, likely used its feathers for ornamentation rather than flight, scientists suggest in an October 2008 paper.

Image courtesy Zhao Chuang and Xing Lida