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Early T-Rex Relative Had Feathers -- Study
Reuters ^ | Wed Oct 6

Posted on 10/08/2004 12:30:38 PM PDT by Area Freeper

The earliest known relative of the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex had primitive feathers, probably to help it keep warm.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing found the remains of the early tyrannosauroid which roamed the earth between 139 and 128 million years ago, in western Liaoning, China, an area rich in fossil remains.

"This provides the first direct fossil evidence that tyrannosauroids had protofeathers," Xing Xu, one of the scientists, said in a report in the science journal Nature.

The primitive feathers were found on the remains of a dinosaur called Dilong paradoxus, which was about 1.5 yards long. It is the first member of the T-rex family with the characteristic.

But Xu said fossil records of T-rex indicate the giant beast had scales, which suggests that because of its huge size, it didn't need primitive feathers to keep warm.

He added that some large mammals such as elephants lose most of their body hairs as they mature.

"This therefore supports the hypothesis that the original function of protofeathers is correlated with thermoregulation," Xu added.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bangagonggetiton; crevo; dinosaurs; evolution; junkscience; tyrannosaurusrex
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1 posted on 10/08/2004 12:30:38 PM PDT by Area Freeper
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To: Area Freeper
Of course this refers to the family tree of Teresa (Mamma T-Rex) Heinz
2 posted on 10/08/2004 12:35:45 PM PDT by AWestCoaster
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To: Area Freeper

I wouldn't spread this around - everyone will want feathers!

Perhaps, even "Mama T"!


3 posted on 10/08/2004 12:38:13 PM PDT by RexBeach (Before God makes you greedy, he makes you stupid.)
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To: Area Freeper

I watched a show on the discovery channel once about the theory that roosters came from dinosaurs. good supporting evidence, but I still bank on Intelligent Design - at least my own personal form of it.


4 posted on 10/08/2004 12:38:22 PM PDT by raivyn (4 MORE YEARS!!!)
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To: Area Freeper

No feathers here!........Pure ROCK!!!!!!!

5 posted on 10/08/2004 12:38:22 PM PDT by Red Badger (If you shoot from the hip enough times, eventually you'll shoot yourself in the a$$......)
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To: Area Freeper

I wouldn't spread this around - everyone will want feathers!

Perhaps, even "Mama T"!


6 posted on 10/08/2004 12:38:24 PM PDT by RexBeach (Before God makes you greedy, he makes you stupid.)
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To: raivyn
I watched a show on the discovery channel once about the theory that roosters came from dinosaurs. good supporting evidence, but I still bank on Intelligent Design

I don't thing the two are mutually exclusive.

7 posted on 10/08/2004 12:40:11 PM PDT by bikepacker67 (Sandy wasn't stuffing his socks, he was stuffing A sock.)
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To: blam

Ping


8 posted on 10/08/2004 12:40:32 PM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Red Badger

BTW look at my first keyword, which I included when posting...


9 posted on 10/08/2004 12:43:55 PM PDT by Area Freeper (From John Kerry, they get a "yes/no/maybe" bowl of mush that can only encourage our enemies)
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To: Area Freeper

"some large mammals such as elephants lose most of their body hairs as they mature. "

I thought that Cheney was powerful when he yelled this phrase at Edwards during the rebuttal segment of last Tuesday's debate.


10 posted on 10/08/2004 12:45:21 PM PDT by orangelobster
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To: Area Freeper

I think what they actually found were the remains of an early T. Rex's feather boa!!


11 posted on 10/08/2004 12:49:07 PM PDT by DustyMoment (Repeal CFR NOW!!)
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To: Area Freeper
Yeah, well maybe those Chinese dinosaurs had feathers....
12 posted on 10/08/2004 12:50:56 PM PDT by KellyAdmirer
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To: Area Freeper

YEC INTREP


13 posted on 10/08/2004 12:54:15 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Secularization of America is happening)
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To: Area Freeper

Wasn't this already proven on Jurassic Park?


14 posted on 10/08/2004 12:54:54 PM PDT by showme_the_Glory (No more rhyming, and I mean it! ..Anybody got a peanut.....)
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To: Area Freeper

Who cares.


15 posted on 10/08/2004 12:56:19 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker (When the cracker gets old, you wind up with Old Cracker. - O.C.)
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To: Area Freeper

Marc Bolins ancestors had feathers?


16 posted on 10/08/2004 12:57:01 PM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: Red Badger

Prime cuts on that one!


17 posted on 10/08/2004 12:57:37 PM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: gathersnomoss

Only on stage.....


18 posted on 10/08/2004 1:03:21 PM PDT by Red Badger (If you shoot from the hip enough times, eventually you'll shoot yourself in the a$$......)
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To: Area Freeper
Yeah, but they had to flap those little wings really fast before they could take off.
19 posted on 10/08/2004 1:20:00 PM PDT by BenLurkin (We have low inflation and and low unemployment.)
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To: Area Freeper

Whether T. rex had scales, proto-feathers, or feathers, Barney the dinosaur is a fraud. Our children are being lied to. Will the damage be irremediable?


20 posted on 10/08/2004 1:45:42 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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