David, (et al)
Recalling your distress at not being informed, by people who did know about
it, of an earlier report of ancient pre-bird fossils discovered in China,
I'm letting you know about another "dinosaur with feathers" article in New
Scientist 29 May 1999 (the actual news item is unfortunately not available
in electronic form - www.newscientist.com). It refers to a paper in Nature
Vol 399:350.
In essence, it appears they have described the fossil remains of a 2.2
metre dinosaur, <Beipiaosaurus>, with hair-like filaments on the arms and
legs, longer but similar to those of the previously described
<Sinosauropterix>, which are proposed to be possible proto-feathers due to
the fact that they have faint median grooves which may indicate hollow
centres (like all feathers). There is no suggestion that the beast flew,
just that feathers on dinosaurs preceded flight in birds.
Cheers,
Harvey
.........................................................................
Dr Harvey D. Perkins :: Editor, :
Divn Biochemistry & Molecular Biology :: Canberra Bird Notes, :
Faculty of Science :: Journal of the Canberra :
Australian National University :: Ornithologists Group (COG) :
Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia :: 42 Summerland Circuit, :
ph: (02) 6249 2693; fax:(02) 6249 0313 :: Kambah, ACT 2902 :
email: :: Ph: (02) 6231 8209 :
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