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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Early Dinosaurs Had Feathers, New Fossil Suggests


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The tiny dinosaur Tianyulong confuciusi (above in an artist's reconstruction) is the first known example of a feathered dinosaur belonging to the group that includes Triceratops and Stegosaurus, a March 2009 study says.

Until now, feathered species had been found only among the two-legged meat-eaters known as theropods, which are thought to be the ancestors of modern birds.

Illustration courtesy Li-Da Xing