Dino Feathers Changed With Age

Galvasean

Two specimens of the dinosaur Similicaudipteryx (a close relative of Oviraptor) have been unearthed in China. Interestingly, the two individuals, while both of the same species, had very different plumage types, representing different stages of development.

The younger animal's fossil included short ribbonlike feathers. On its tail, each feather was just 1.6 inches (4 centimeters) long, while on its arms a typical feather was less than 0.8 inch (2 centimeters) long.

By contrast, the older dinosaur sported long quills, with each tail feather measuring 13.7 inches (35 centimeters) long and a typical arm feather measuring roughly 9.8 inches (25 centimeters) long.

The discovery may lead to a re-examination of many feathered dinosaur fossils, which may have been misidentified as being seperate species due to drastically different plumage.

Full article here.


Image by Xing Lida and Song Qijin

*Disclaimer* The linked article says that oviraptorosaurs are the ancestors of birds. This is a mistake. They are indeed related to the dinosaur ancestors of modern birds, but they themselves are not ancestral to birds.