All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
13 06, 2017

Watch the Birdie (Enantiornithine in Amber)

By |2023-07-26T10:19:15+01:00June 13th, 2017|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page, Palaeontological articles|0 Comments

Nearly Complete Baby Bird Preserved in Amber

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with colleagues from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (Canada) and the China University of Geosciences have announced the discovery of yet another prehistoric animal preserved entombed within a 99-million-year-old piece of amber from Myanmar.  The animal is a baby bird, perhaps only a few days old when it was engulfed in sticky tree resin back in the Cretaceous.  It is an astonishing discovery, an enantiornithine in amber.  It is one of a number of remarkable fossil finds made in recent years from the amber deposits of northern Myanmar.

Enantiornithine in Amber

Most of the skull and neck is preserved along with part of a wing, a hindlimb, complete with claws and some soft tissue surrounding the tail.  Some of the plumage has also been encased within the amber nodule.  Described as representing a specimen of the Enantiornithes clade, it is the most complete bird preserved in amber found to date.

Enantiornithine Hatchling Preserved in Burmese Amber

Baby Enantiornithine bird trapped in amber.

Baby bird preserved in amber.

Picture credit: Ryan McKellar (Royal Saskatchewan Museum) et al.

The picture above shows the amber nodule (a).  The nodule measures approximately 86 mm × 30 mm × 57 mm it has been assigned the specimen number HPG-15-1 and it has been cut in half.  The cut-mark is represented in (c) which shows the cut as a dotted line against a line drawing of the bird’s remains preserved in the nodule.  An interpretation of the high-resolution scans showing the skeletal components is shown in (b).  The disarticulated remains of this individual has led the research team to speculate that the corpse of this young bird might have been scavenged prior to its entombing in the tree resin.

A Very Young Bird

Writing in the academic journal “Gondwana Research”, the scientists conclude that the shape of the skeleton and the plumage indicates a very young bird, the well-developed wings, claws and the presence of some filamentous body feathers suggests that enantiornithines were hatched in a relatively advanced state, being perhaps able to feed itself almost immediately.

Being born nearly fully developed and independent of the parents is termed precocial.  Many modern birds are precocial, examples include ostrich chicks and ducklings.  These birds are able to keep themselves warm and move about, often leaving the nest in just a few hours.  The scarcity of body feathers on the Cretaceous bird represents a distinct departure from the feather coverings found in today’s precocial birds.  Perhaps the enantiornithines relied on their parents to brood them to keep them warm, or perhaps these birds hatched during the hottest part of the year, when insulation was not as necessary.

A Three-Dimensional Model Created from the High-Resolution Scans

Fossil bird trapped in amber.

Using 3-D scans the researchers were able to create a model of the death pose of the bird.

Picture credit: Ryan McKellar (Royal Saskatchewan Museum)

Commenting on the importance of this fossil discovery, Ryan McKellar (Royal Saskatchewan Museum) stated:

“We’ve had more complete specimens, where you get more of the skeleton preserved, from compression fossils, but never with this level of detail.  It’s like a little diorama.”

Nicknamed “Belone”

The amber nodule also contains insect remains, plant material and mites, providing an insight into the fauna and flora of a conifer forest that existed around 99 to 100 million years ago.  The amber was found by a miner back in 2014, at first the claw was thought to have come from a lizard but once the piece had been purchased by the Hupoge Amber Museum in Tengchong City, China, a correct identification was made.  The specimen was nicknamed “Belone” a local term for an amber-coloured bird called the Oriental skylark.

Researchers including palaeontologist Lida Xing (China University of Geosciences), used CT scans to examine fossil elements hidden from view.  These scans revealed the skull and part of the spine, although the cutting of the nodule damaged the anterior portion of the head and the tiny jaws.

As for its feathers, the bird had different kinds: some that palaeontologists have seen on dinosaurs, but others that are closer to modern-day birds.  This, the research team commented, was one of the most surprising and rewarding finds.

The Enantiornithine Hind Leg

Enantiornithine hindlimb

A closer view of the hind limb of the enantiornithine bird.

Picture credit: Ming Bai

A Precocial Bird

The presence of strong toes equipped with sharp claws suggests that this bird could clamber around in the trees shortly after hatching, yet more evidence of just how independent this young bird was.  Precociality is thought to be ancestral in birds.  Thus, altricial birds tend to be found in the most derived families within the Aves (birds) Order.   There is some evidence for precociality in the Dinosauria.  It seems that being independent at birth is a characteristic that is basal to the birds.

A Close View of One of the Claws

Enantiornithine claw.

A close view of the claw, even individual scales have been preserved in the amber.

Picture credit: Ming Bai

The amber mines of Kachin Province (northern Myanmar) are renowned for their remarkable fossils, back in 2016, Everything Dinosaur wrote an article about the remnants of a bird’s wing that had been preserved trapped in amber.

To read more: Bird Wing Trapped In Amber.

Later that year, Everything Dinosaur reported on discovery of a fragment of a dinosaur’s tail that had been found preserved inside amber.  That remarkable specimen was studied by a number of the researchers who contributed to the study of this baby bird fossil.

To read more about the dinosaur tail discovery: The Tale of a Dinosaur Tail.

The scientific paper: “A mid-Cretaceous Enantiornithine (Aves) Hatchling Preserved in Burmese Amber with Unusual Plumage” by Lida Xing, Jingmai K. O’Connor, Ryan C. McKellar, Luis M. Chiappe, Kuowei Tseng, Gang Li, Ming Bai published in Gondwana Research.

12 06, 2017

Dinosaurs of China – Exhibits Arrive

By |2023-07-26T10:09:16+01:00June 12th, 2017|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Chinese Takeaway Delivered Safe and Sound

The amazing dinosaur exhibits that form this summer’s world exclusive Dinosaurs of China exhibition have arrived safe and sound at their Nottinghamshire venues.  This exciting exhibition, which features a number of specimens that have not been seen outside of Asia before, opens on Saturday, July 1st and the dedicated staff at Wollaton Hall and the Nottingham Lakeside Arts Centre with the collaboration of technicians from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology in Beijing, have just three weeks to put all the exhibits together.

Unloading Giant Dinosaur Vertebrae

Unloading an exhibit (Dinosaurs of China).

Dorsal vertebrae from the giant Mamenchisaurus exhibit are carefully unloaded.

Picture credit: Dinosaurs of China

Jumbo-sized Jigsaw Puzzles

Before the exhibits can tell the fascinating story of how the dinosaurs evolved into birds, all the individual parts of the various dinosaurs have to be put together.  This is no mean feat, as Wollaton Hall will be home to a massive Mamenchisaurus dinosaur skeleton for the next five months.  The neck of Mamenchisaurus is a fraction under ten metres in length and it contains nineteen giant bones (cervical vertebrae).  The finished Mamenchisaurus exhibit will stand the same height as three double decker buses!

Unloading a Dinosaur at Wollaton Hall

Mamenchisaurus cervical vertebrae

Unloading Mamenchisaurus cervical vertebrae.

Picture credit: Dinosaurs of China

After a fifty-day, five-thousand-mile trip from China to the UK, this is one Chinese takeaway that will take a lot of careful handling.

Dinosaurs of China

The main exhibition at Wollaton Hall will feature twenty-six prehistoric animal skeletons and fossils that include some of the best-preserved specimens in the world.  Dr Adam Smith, Exhibition Curator, commented:

“It’s absolutely incredible to have the Dinosaurs of China here, having completed their two-month long, inter-continental journey.  Seeing such important finds up close is really thrilling and we can’t wait to start the installation process so we can share them with the rest of the country this summer!”

Dr Adam Smith Checks Over a Specimen

Checking over an exhibit.

Counting the bones – all present and correct.

Picture credit: Dinosaurs of China

Visitors to the complementary exhibition at Nottingham Lakeside Arts will be greeted by two fascinating dinosaur skeletons – the Alxasaurus, which when it was alive, was probably covered in a coat of shaggy feathers and the fearsome Early Jurassic Dilophosaurus.   Dilophosaurus has two, thin, bony crests that ran from the top of its nose to the back of its head, hence this dinosaur’s name which means “double-crested lizard”.

Dilophosaurus “Double Crested Lizard”

Dilophosaurus dinosaur model.

Wild Safari Prehistoric World Dilophosaurus.

The Dilophosaurus Puzzle

The Dilophosaurus fossils found in China, may not be Dilophosaurus at all!  Some palaeontologists think that these fossils belong to a different, but related dinosaur called Sinosaurus (Sinosaurus triassicus).  That’s the great thing about palaeontology, new theories about these long extinct creatures are being put forward all the time, as more fossils are found.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur explained:

“We are finding out new things about dinosaurs all the time!  That’s why this exhibition is so very special.  It will give visitors the chance to learn about some of the most important dinosaur discoveries ever made.”

Preparing for the Dinosaur Exhibits

Preparing for the dinosaur exhibit.

Placing a steel frame to help support a dinosaur exhibit.

Picture Credit: Dinosaurs of China

Lots of Family-friendly Activities

Nottingham Lakeside Arts have lots of exciting family-friendly activities planned including an interactive exhibition that will explore how palaeo-art and science helps palaeontologists to work out what dinosaurs looked like.  Check out Nottingham University’s Life Science collection that will also be on display.

There will also be plenty of exciting activities and workshops to keep families entertained at Wollaton Hall too.  A free “Dino Explorer Zone” is being installed to provide families with a range of themed activities and puzzles.

All in all, there’s enough going on to make every young dinosaur fan roar with excitement and for the mums, dads, grandparents and guardians, you can expect to learn something new about these amazing prehistoric monsters.

Tickets for the exhibition are now on sale.  Prices are £7.70 for an adult and £5.50 for a child.  Family tickets are £22 for two adults and two children.  Children under five go free, so there really is no excuse – catch up with the dinosaurs from July 1st until October 29th!

For more information, please visit the Wollaton Hall website.

Please note this exhibition has now closed.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

11 06, 2017

How Did the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Get Its Name?

By |2023-07-26T09:59:06+01:00June 11th, 2017|Dinosaur Fans, Geology, Main Page, Photos/Pictures of Fossils|0 Comments

How Did the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Get Its Name?

After having published an article on a new theory explaining the mass death dinosaur assemblage preserved at the Cleveland-Lloyd fossil site in the Morrison Formation (Brushy Basin Member), we were sent an email asking how the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry got its name if the site is a long way from Cleveland, Ohio?

The Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry

It is true, the fossil site, which represents the greatest concentration of Jurassic dinosaur fossils known to science, is a very long way from the city of Cleveland, but it is near the small town of Cleveland, Emery County, in Utah.  This famous fossil site was named in part, as it was close to the town of Cleveland.  The second part of the hyphenated name “Lloyd” is all to do with funding,

Map Showing Sites, Stratigraphic Section Line, and Regional Stratigraphy in Context of the San Rafael Swell

Location of the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.

Map showing sites, stratigraphic section line, and regional stratigraphy in context of the San Rafael Swell.

Picture credit: PeerJ

In the picture above CLDQ marks the location of the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and JONS indicates the location of the nearby Johnsonville fossil site in Utah.  The inset map shows the location of the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in relation to the rest of the state of Utah.

To read the article: The Mystery of the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.

Where Did the Lloyd Part of the Name Come From?

The site was first discovered in 1927, the first extensive excavations commenced in 1929, (University of Utah).  The siltstones were deposited in the Late Jurassic and the strata makes up part of the Brushy Basin Member at the northern end of the San Rafael Swell.  For the next decade, regular expeditions to the site were undertaken and these were funded, in the most part, by a lawyer from Philadelphia called Malcolm Lloyd.  This is how the famous dinosaur dig site came to be named.

The quarry is world-famous for its very high concentration of dinosaur bones.  The scattered remains of over seventy dinosaurs are believed to be present, representing nine dinosaur genera.  However, around two-thirds of all the bones are attributable to a single dinosaur taxon Allosaurus fragilis.  Most of the other bonebeds associated with the Morrison Formation contain a higher proportion of herbivorous dinosaurs. Furthermore, when the A. fragilis material is assessed over 85% of the fossils represent juveniles or sub-adults of the species.

Further exploration of this extremely fossil rich location is planned.

So, the site with the greatest concentration of Jurassic dinosaur bones known to science was named after a lawyer from Philadelphia and the nearest township.

Allosaurus

A Model of Allosaurus a Dinosaur Associated with the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry

Schleich Allosaurus (2017).

The new for 2017 Schleich Allosaurus dinosaur model.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the Schleich section of the Everything Dinosaur website: Schleich Dinosaur Toys.

The picture shows a Schleich Allosaurus model (2017).

To visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 06, 2017

Fossils Rewrite the History of our Species

By |2023-07-26T09:15:06+01:00June 10th, 2017|General Teaching, Key Stage 3/4|Comments Off on Fossils Rewrite the History of our Species

Pushing Back the Origin of our Species by 100,000 Years

Fossil hominin remains from the Atlantic coast of Morocco indicate that our species Homo sapiens originated at least 100,000 years earlier than previously thought.  In addition, this north African discovery challenges the idea of eastern Africa as being the “cradle of humankind” – at least in terms of the evolution of our species.

An Early Human Skull Compared to a Modern Human Skull (Homo sapiens)

Comparing Homo sapiens skull material.

Comparing Homo sapiens skull material.

Picture Credit: Natural History Museum (London) with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

Writing in the academic journal “Nature”, scientists that include lead author professor Jean-Jacques Hublin (Department of Human Evolution at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany), have studied the fragmentary fossilised remains of five early humans and dated these remains to approximately 315,000 years ago.  Previous studies, had suggested that our species originated some 200,000 to 220,000 years ago.

Rewriting the Textbooks

Sixty miles west of the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, the remote cave site of Jebel Irhoud can be found.  The cave roof may have collapsed long ago, but this location has provided extremely important evidence about life in the Pleistocene Epoch.  This notable anthropological site was discovered in 1960, with the first extensive field work being undertaken a year later.  The limestone cave site has yielded a number of fossils of prehistoric mammals as well as bones and stone tools associated with both Neanderthals and our own species.  According to scientists, this new study indicates that the idea that our species evolved in eastern Africa is no longer tenable.  It is more likely that H. sapiens evolved all across the continent.

Professor Hublin stated:

“It is not the story of it happening in a rapid way in a “Garden of Eden” somewhere in Africa.  Our view is that it was a more gradual development and it involved the whole continent.  So, if there was a Garden of Eden, it was all of Africa.”

A Beautifully Preserved Human Jaw

The more than twenty human bones (from five individuals), include a nearly complete lower jaw, plus skull fragments. The material has been dated using several methods and the range of dates produced is between 280,000 to 350,000 years, with the most probable date around 315,000 years.

A Model of a Modern Human (H. sapiens)

Bullyland H. sapiens

A model of modern human being (H. sapiens).

The model (above) is from the Bullyland range of prehistoric animal figures.

To view this range: Bullyland Prehistoric Models and Figures.

Homo sapiens Fossils

The re-dating and the human remains from Jebel Irhoud convinced the research team that early H. sapiens once lived at this location.  The teeth, somewhat bigger when compared with those of modern humans, are a better match to H. sapiens than they are to Neanderthals or other known archaic humans.

The Jebel Irhoud skulls are elongated compared with those of modern people.  This suggests that these individuals’ brains were organised differently when compared to our own.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“These fossils overturn our ideas regarding the evolution of our species.  In addition, by comparing the skulls, jaws and teeth we can gain a better understanding of how our species Homo sapiens has evolved over the last 300,000 years.  We are not separate from the laws of natural selection, but very much shaped by them.”

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

10 06, 2017

Mojo Models Feature in Newsletter

By |2023-07-26T07:32:06+01:00June 10th, 2017|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Newsletters, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products|0 Comments

Everything Dinosaur Newsletter Features Mojo Models

Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” models feature in the latest edition of the Everything Dinosaur newsletter.  To celebrate Mojo Fun models coming into stock at Everything Dinosaur, the latest company newsletter was dedicated to these excellent prehistoric animal models.

Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Figures Feature in the Everything Dinosaur Newsletter

Mojo prehistoric animal models.

Everything Dinosaur features Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” models in the latest newsletter.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mojo Fun Models

Everything Dinosaur has introduced all thirty-one of the current figures made by Mojo in their “Prehistoric and Extinct” model range.  Unlike most other figure manufacturers, the Mojo range includes some recently extinct (or at least currently regarded as extinct), animals – creatures such as the Thylacine and the Quagga (a sub-species of Plains Zebra)*.  Naturally, the first model to be featured in the newsletter is the T. rex, specifically the green hunting Tyrannosaurus rex.  Mojo has a total of six “Tyrant Lizard King” replicas in its range, including a spectacular 1:40 scale model, which can be seen in the picture below (bottom right), as well as a model of a juvenile T. rex.

Marine Reptiles and Prehistoric Mammals in the Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” Range

Mojo Fun models.

Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” animal figures.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Mojo Fun – Animal Planet

Mojo was founded eight years ago (2009), the company focuses on the design and production of high quality models.  Better known as “Mojofun”, the first model range was introduced in 2011 and the company’s product portfolio has grown steadily since.  The enthusiastic Mojo team members have plenty of ambition, they intend to continue to create the finest quality models that they can and to increase the range of animals featured.

The thirty-one models in the “Prehistoric & Extinct” range represent a total of nineteen different creatures, all of them are either reptiles or mammals and they lived during the Mesozoic or the Cenozoic Eras.  The breakdown is as follows:

  • Dinosaurs = nine dinosaurs represented (4 carnivores and 5 herbivores).
  • Prehistoric Mammals = six animals are represented.
  • Recently Extinct* = two models (Thylacine – Tasmanian Tiger and the Quagga)
  • Marine Reptiles = one model (Tylosaurus)
  • Prehistoric Crocodile = one model (Sarcosuchus)

Several of the Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” models have recently been re-painted, allowing a number of new colour variants to be introduced.  The Mojo Parasaurolophus models are a case in point (see picture below).

Mojo Parasaurolophus Models (Biped and Quadruped)

Mojo Parasaurolophus dinosaurs.

The Mojo Parasaurolophus dinosaur models (biped and quadruped).

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Studies of the fossilised bones of the duck-billed dinosaur Parasaurolophus indicate that this large, Late Cretaceous dinosaur was a facultative biped.  It probably spent most of its time on all fours, but when the need arose, for example, to flee an attacking tyrannosaur, this dinosaur could run using just its hind legs.  We congratulate Mojo for including two versions of Parasaurolophus in its model range – one in a bipedal pose, the other representing Parasaurolophus as a quadruped.

Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” Models

Almost as many mammal models are included in the ” Prehistoric and Extinct” range as dinosaurs.  Model collectors have seen the number of prehistoric animal models in production decline in recent years, the addition of figures such as the Mojo Smilodon, Deinotherium and the Entelodont Daeodon, to Everything Dinosaur’s inventory is very welcome.

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Mojo produces Velociraptor, Triceratops and Stegosaurus models and of course, this range offers a variety of tyrannosaurs, but one of the attractions for us is that Mojo also offers some of the less common prehistoric animals such as a Hyaenodon replica and a Brontotherium.  We know that these types of replicas are greatly appreciated by model collectors.”

To view the range of Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” models available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Prehistoric and Extinct Models.

Extinction*

The last known Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger), died in captivity in 1936.  It is officially recognised as extinct, but a genetic research programme has been established for nearly twenty years with the aim of ultimately re-introducing these animals via cloning.  In addition, periodic sightings and reports of living Thylacines both from Tasmania and the Australian mainland have prompted a team of scientists to set camera traps in a remote part of northern Queensland to see if they can obtain evidence of a living population.  To read more about this: The Hunt for Tasmanian Tigers.

The Quagga Project was established in 1987 to reintroduce Quagga-like phenotypes via a selective breeding programme.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

To subscribe to the Everything Dinosaur newsletter, email us: Contact Everything Dinosaur.

9 06, 2017

The Mystery of the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry

By |2023-07-26T07:24:24+01:00June 9th, 2017|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|2 Comments

Has the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Mystery Been Solved?

One of the most prolific dinosaur fossil sites to be found anywhere in the world lies thirty miles to the south of the town of Price in Utah.  The site is close to the small community of Cleveland (Emery County) and some 15,000 dinosaur bones have been collected from this site to date.  The strata represent Upper Jurassic siltstone (Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation) and this location is the densest collection of Jurassic dinosaur fossils known to science.

Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils

Since the first excavations were carried out in the late 1920s, palaeontologists have been puzzled by the assemblage of vertebrate fossils they found.  Although, carnivorous dinosaurs were probably less common in the palaeoenvironment than the plant-eaters, at this site, the fossils of theropods (carnivores) outnumbers the fossils of herbivorous dinosaurs by almost three to one.  In addition, the most common dinosaur fossil material is Allosaurus, the bones of this large dinosaur are extremely numerous at least forty-six individuals (based on femur bone counts) are recorded.

A Mounted Skeleton of the Late Jurassic Carnivore Allosaurus

Papo Allosaurus new colour scheme (2019).

The Papo Allosaurus new colour scheme.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a Papo Allosaurus model.

To view the Papo model range: Papo Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures.

For nearly one hundred years, palaeontologists have puzzled over this unique fossil assemblage.  Why is this particular location so full of the bones of carnivorous dinosaurs?  Why are the vast majority of these bones from a single genus – Allosaurus?

A Pie Chart Showing the Proportion of Different Dinosaur Fossils from the Cleveland-Lloyd Quarry

Cleveland-Ohio fossil assemblage.

A pie chart showing the proportion of dinosaur fossils by genus.

Picture credit: PeerJ with additional annotation by Everything Dinosaur

The pie chart above lists dinosaur fauna plus one turtle (Glyptops) and a crocodyliform (Goniopholis) from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.  The bone symbol identifies meat-eating dinosaurs and the fir tree, plant-eating dinosaurs.  The fossils of Allosaurus dominate the bonebed.

Theories Explaining the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry Bonebed

Several theories have been suggested as to what caused the build-up of dinosaur fossils at this location and why the majority of them represent one carnivorous genus.

  • This was a predator trap.  A pond attracted dinosaurs to the site as it was a source of water in the dry season.  These animals got stuck in the mud and they died, this in turn attracted scavengers who also become stuck and perished.
  • This site could mark a mass death assemblage of a lot of dinosaurs which died in a drought.
  • Was the water source toxic and this poisoned a lot of dinosaurs?  The rotting corpses attracted scavengers and these too were poisoned.

Writing in the academic journal “PeerJ” a team of researchers have put forward a new theory to explain the unusual taphonomy (the process of fossilisation).  The use of modern data techniques suggests that the quarry represents a series of catastrophic events that occurred at the same place over time, rather than a single mass death assemblage.

A New Theory

The research team, which included lead author Joseph Peterson (University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh), conclude that the myriad of small bone fragments found at the site, were created during periods of drought as bones which were not buried were weathered and eroded away on the surface.  Dinosaur carcasses were washed into the site which represented a temporary (seasonal or ephemeral pond) during frequent flood events.  As the corpses decayed, they led to very high levels of minerals and organic material in the water (hypereutrophic conditions).  This discouraged scavenging (which explains the lack of gnaw marks and other evidence of scavenging by predators at the site).

As more flood events took place, so more corpses were washed into the area and the existing skeletons were re-deposited.  Hence the jumble of bones.  The hypereutrophic water created an environment in which fish, turtles and crocodiles could survive and carnivorous dinosaurs were dissuaded from eating the carcasses.  Only a handful of crocodyliform teeth have been found at the Cleveland-Lloyd site, along with some turtle shell fragments, whereas, elsewhere in the Morrison Formation, turtle and crocodyliform teeth are much more numerous.

Explaining the Unusual Bonebed at the Cleveland-Lloyd Quarry Site

How did the Cleveland-Lloyd fossil site form?

Explaining how the Cleveland-Lloyd fossil site came into being.

Picture credit: PeerJ

The image above reflects the newly proposed theory as to how the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry formed.

(A) A flood causes the carcasses of dinosaurs to be deposited in the quarry area.  High levels of organic matter decaying leads to hypereutrophy (an excess of minerals in the water source).  This discourages predators from scavenging and deters freshwater fauna such as fish, turtles and crocodile-like creatures.

(B) As water levels fall during the dry season, bones that were not buried during the flood stage remain exposed on the surface.

(C) In arid conditions the surface bones are subjected to weathering and erosion.

(D) A subsequent flood event leads to more carcasses being incorporated and the reworking of existing bones within the deposit.

The scientists conclude that this cycle was repeated until the deposit maintained a higher water table, producing the limestone layers above the bone-bearing silts and muds.

A Model of the Fearsome Late Jurassic Predator Allosaurus (A. fragilis)

Schleich dinosaur model (Allosaurus).

The new for 2017 Schleich Allosaurus dinosaur model.

To view the Schleich dinosaur model range: Schleich Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Figures. 

The picture (above) shows a Schleich Allosaurus model, one of an extensive range of Schleich dinosaurs.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

8 06, 2017

Megalosaurus Fossil Still Surprises

By |2023-07-26T07:11:48+01:00June 8th, 2017|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

World’s First Named Dinosaur Reveals New Teeth

The fossils that led to the first scientific account of a dinosaur can still provide some surprises, even 193 years after the original paper describing them was published.  The first dinosaur to be scientifically described Megalosaurus (M. bucklandii), has stepped once more into the spotlight.  A team of researchers have discovered five new teeth within the lower jaw fossil of the world’s first named dinosaur.

Megalosaurus Fossils Used to Describe the First Dinosaur in 1824

The lower jaw of Megalosaurus.

The partial dentary for teeth associated with Megalosaurus bucklandii.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture above shows the right dentary of Megalosaurus.  It is on display at the Oxford University Natural History Museum.

Using state-of-the-art computer tomography scanning technology and three-dimensional computer generated modelling software, the researchers from the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department at the University of Warwick, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Oxford’s Museum of Natural History have been able to provide new insights about one of the most iconic fossils in the world.

One of the authors of the study, presented this week at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)’s conference in Italy, Professor Mark Williams stated:

“Being able to use state-of-the-art technology, normally reserved for aerospace and automotive engineering, to scan such a rare and iconic natural history specimen was a fantastic opportunity.  When I was growing up I was fascinated with dinosaurs and clearly remember seeing pictures of the Megalosaurus jaw in books that I read.  Having access to and scanning the real thing was an incredible experience.”

Famous Dinosaur Jawbone

In 1824, the Reverend William Buckland published a description of various fossils that had been found as quarrying tunnels were excavated at Stonesfield, north of Witney in Oxfordshire.  The fossils had been found some years before, the dentary having been placed in the collection of the Oxford Anatomy School at Christchurch College (Oxford) in 1797.  Reverend Buckland believed the fossilised bones and teeth came from a giant, antediluvian lizard, hence the name “Big Lizard”, Megalosaurus having been proposed by James Parkinson in 1822.

A 19th Century Interpretation of Megalosaurus Compared to a Modern Interpretation of M. bucklandii

The changing view of Megalosaurus.

A modern interpretation of Megalosaurus (left) with a reconstruction based on the original illustration by Richard Owen (right).

Picture credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

The illustration above shows an artist’s impression of how Victorian palaeontologists such as Richard Owen thought the Megalosaurus looked (right), compared with a modern interpretation of this Middle Jurassic carnivore.

Digital Three-dimensional Image of the Dentary

Using state of the art CT scanning technology and specialist three-dimensional analysis software, Professor Williams took more than 3,000 X-ray images of the world-famous Megalosaurus jawbone, creating a digital three-dimensional computer generated image.  The image revealed five previously unseen teeth embedded in the dentary and also provided important insights into historical repairs.  It turns out that there is actually less plaster and filler in the fossil, as this technique has allowed scientists to see the extent of the infilling and repairs for the first time.

Megalosaurus bucklandii was Probably an Apex Predator

CollectA Megalosaurus in ambush dinosaur model.

The new for 2021 CollectA Megalosaurus in ambush dinosaur model.

The picture (above) shows the CollectA Megalosaurus in ambush dinosaur figure.

To view this range: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Figures.

Megalosaurus Fossil Jawbone

The specimen is damaged, it is likely that some of the damage occurred when the fossil was excavated but over the two hundred years since the fossil was found some restoration work has taken place.  For example, records at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where the specimen is housed, show that sometime between 1927 and 1931 repairs to the jawbone took place.  The scans show the true extent of repairs on the fossil for the first time, revealing that there may have been at least two phases of repair, using different types of plaster.  This new information will help the museum make important decisions about any future restoration work on this iconic fossil.

The analysis also revealed the presence of five teeth that had not been detected before.  The teeth consist of the remains of old, worn and broken teeth plus embryonic replacement teeth.  Unlike us, Megalosaurus was able to continually replace its teeth throughout its life.  The replacement tooth grew inside the jaw, adjacent to the root of the active tooth on the lingual* side of the jaw.

A full-sized, but very thin crown formed first and this grew in thickness as more layers of dentine were added.  The growth of the embryonic tooth placed pressure on the active tooth root, causing the root to become slowly reabsorbed into the jawbone.  The replacement tooth was able to push itself inside the old tooth root and effectively usurp that tooth from the socket in the jaw where it had been located.  The old, worn tooth having been weakened, would most likely break and the crown would be lost, permitting the younger tooth to replace it in the jawline.  A similar process is seen in extant Crocodylia today.

Helping to Identify Forgeries

This research was made possible through a collaboration between Professor Williams’ research group at WMG, University of Warwick – including PhD researcher Paul Wilson – and Professor Paul Smith, director of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.   When not being scanned or used in other research, the Megalosaurus jawbone forms part of an extensive British dinosaur fossil display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

An ability to utilise a non-invasive technique to map fossil material provides palaeontologists and conservators with vital information about the preservation status of a specimen.  It also identifies and maps any repairs that have taken place previously.  In addition, this technique which does not harm the fossil, can detect the presence of filler and other modifications often added by unscrupulous dealers to raise the potential value of their fossil finds.

Forgeries and hoaxes have no hiding place when it comes to CT scans.

The research was recently presented at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)’s International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference in Torino, Italy.

The scientific paper, “Utilising X-Ray Computed Tomography for Heritage Conservation: The case of Megalosaurus bucklandii”

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

8 06, 2017

Everything Dinosaur Adds Mojo Models to the Range

By |2023-07-26T07:02:03+01:00June 8th, 2017|Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page, Photos of Everything Dinosaur Products, Press Releases|2 Comments

Mojo ” Prehistoric and Extinct” Models Available from Everything Dinosaur

Everything Dinosaur has added the Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” model range to its portfolio of prehistoric animal models.  All thirty-one of the current range of figures is now stocked by Everything Dinosaur, everything from Ankylosaurus to the Young Tyrannosaurus rex and every model in between.

Everything Dinosaur is Proud to Add Mojo Models to Its Range

Mojo dinosaur and prehistoric animal models.

Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” model range.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the complete range of Mojo models stocked by Everything Dinosaur: Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” Models.

Dinosaur Models

The current range includes all the popular dinosaurs.  There are Brachiosaurus models, stegosaurs, Velociraptors and of course several different models of T. rex including a 1:40 scale replica and a new for 2017, pair of hunting “Tyrant Lizard Kings”.  You have a choice, do you prefer the green hunting T. rex or the fiery red version?

The Green Hunting Tyrannosaurus rex Dinosaur Model by Mojo

Hunting T. rex dinosaur figure (Mojo).

The Mojo hunting T. rex (green).

Mojo Fun Models

For fans of theropods, along with the T. rex replicas and three different Velociraptor models to collect, there is also a new for 2017 Allosaurus model too.  All of the models are suitable for children from three years of age and they are all hand-painted.

Not Just Dinosaurs but Prehistoric Mammals Too!

One of the great things about the Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” model range is that it features lots of other types of extinct animal as well as dinosaurs.  For example, the current range also includes a Deinotherium, Sabre-toothed Cat, an entelodont (Daeodon), the vicious Hyaenodon gigas, two Woolly Mammoth replicas and a wonderful brontothere (Brontotherium).  We at Everything Dinosaur accept that Brontotherium is a junior synonym of Megacerops, but that did not stop us writing a fact sheet about this “Thunder Beast”!  In fact, all of the Mojo models sent out by Everything Dinosaur are despatched with a fact sheet about the animal, written and researched by our own team members.

The Mojo ” Prehistoric and Extinct” Deinotherium Model

The Deinotherium model by Mojo.

Mojo Deinotherium model.

Recently Extinct Creatures

Everything Dinosaur has also brought in models representing animals that have only recently been declared extinct*.  Within the Mojo range there is a model of the Quagga, a recently extinct sub-species of Plains Zebra from southern Africa.  There is also an excellent Thylacine replica for fans to collect.

The Mojo Quagga Model

Mojo Quagga replica.

* There is an ongoing selective breeding programme to breed back Quagga traits in a herd of zebra, subsequent generations have produced animals with more Quagga-like colouration.

* Scientists in Australia are currently setting camera traps in a bid to capture evidence of a small living population of Thylacines.  The “Tasmanian Wolf” may not be extinct, some fragmented populations may still exist in the more remote parts of Australia, especially on the island of Tasmania.

These two figures certainly don’t look out of place amongst all the Mojo dinosaur models.

To view all the Mojo “Prehistoric and Extinct” replicas available from Everything Dinosaur: Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Models.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

8 06, 2017

T. rex Not Feathered After All

By |2023-07-25T22:17:59+01:00June 8th, 2017|General Teaching|Comments Off on T. rex Not Feathered After All

Tyrannosaurus rex Had Scaly Skin

A team of international scientists including Professor Phil Currie (University of Alberta) and Robert T. Bakker (Houston Museum of Natural Science), have concluded that Tyrannosaurus rex was probably not covered in a coat of shaggy feathers.  A study of T. rex skin impression fossils found in association with a 30% complete skeleton of the “Tyrant Lizard King” in Montana indicate that this iconic carnivorous dinosaur had scaly skin like a modern-day reptile.

Tyrannosaurus rex Not Covered in Feathers

Rebor T. rex Tusk dinosaur model.

The Rebor T. rex Tusk King T. rex Requiem model is supplied with a clear plastic support base but our models appear quite stable even standing on our office carpet without the need for the support stand. This is a T. rex model that does not show any feathers. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model (above) is a Rebor T. rex figure.

To view the Rebor model range: Rebor Prehistoric Animal Models.

Dinosaurs with Feathers

A number of dinosaurs are known to have sported feathers and some did have shaggy, feathery coats.  A member of the same clade of dinosaurs to which T. rex belongs, a big, meat-eating dinosaur called Yutyrannus (Y. huali), from China did have a feathery coat.  Based on this evidence a number of scientists proposed that dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and its near relatives were also feathered.

A Feathered Tyrannosaur Dinosaur Model

Available from Everything Dinosaur.  A feathered tyrannosaur figure.

The model (above) is from the Wild Safari Prehistoric World range.

To view this range: Wild Safari Prehistoric World Figures.

Extension Ideas

How do scientists know that some dinosaurs had feathers?   Link to fossil evidence and what fossils can tell us about life in the past.  This article might prove helpful as it provides pictures of feathered dinosaur fossils and a reconstruction of a feathered dinosaur: New Feathered Dinosaur from China with Pennaceous Feathers.

Why might some dinosaurs have had feathers?  There are a number of potential answers, for example, some dinosaurs may have had dense coats of feathers to help keep them warm, (insulation), in the same way that many birds and mammals have insulating feathers and fur today.  Can the class provide of examples from the natural world?  Feathers might also have been used for display or for visual communication.  Can the children provide examples of birds that use feathers not just for flying but for display – peacocks, birds of paradise etc.

One of the T. rex Skin Impression Fossils 

Tyrannosaurus rex skin impression.

Preserved integument from the neck (b) of T. rex specimen HMNS 2006.1743.01

Picture credit: Biology Letters

For more information about the recent research into the Montana T. rex specimen with its skin impressions: Has T. rex Shed Its Feathers?

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

7 06, 2017

T. rex Sheds Its Feathers?

By |2023-07-25T07:47:34+01:00June 7th, 2017|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|6 Comments

The Scaly Skin of Tyrannosauroids

So, it is published!  A team of eminent scientists, some of the leading lights in palaeontology, have published in the Royal Society Biology Letters details of research that questions whether Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurids, including the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex sported a coat of feathers.

Research into T. rex Feathers

At Everything Dinosaur, we have known about the fossils upon which this research is based, for some time.  Indeed, we are aware of a number of research projects taking place exploring the evidence for integumentary coverings in the Dinosauria.  This new study looks at skin impressions from several Late Cretaceous, giant tyrannosaurs and concludes that despite early tyrannosauroids having feathers, T. rex and its near relatives, most likely had scaly skin.

A Fluffy, Feather Covered Tyrannosaurus rex

Dino Dana feathered T. rex video showcase.

The Dino Dana feathered T. rex video showcase titles.  A feathered T. rex.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The image (above) shows the Dino Dana feathered T. rex figure.

To view this range: Wild Safari Prehistoric World.

The research has generated some surprising headlines, looks like many media outlets have got into a bit of a flap:

“Feather furore: T. rex may not have been fluffy after all, skin study suggests” – The Guardian.

“Tyrannosaurus rex had scaly skin:  Here are the controversial reasons why scientists think the dinosaur was NOT covered in feathers” – Mail Online

“Jurassic Park may have been right about the T-rex after all” – Silicon Republic

“Here’s what it would feel like to pet a T. Rex” – National Geographic

Some quick points:

  • If you publish a story that features Tyrannosaurus rex lots of media outlets are likely to cover it.
  • You can expect some sensational headlines.
  • Expect numerous faux pas when it comes to the “Tyrant Lizard King” – rapped knuckles for Silicon Republic and National Geographic!  No hyphen in T-rex, no capital letter for the trivial name etc.

What Does the Study Show?

The research team led by Dr Phil Bell (University of New England, New South Wales, Australia), examined the fossilised skin impressions associated with a partial skull and postcranial material of a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen “Wyrex” from the Hell Creek Formation of Montana.  These fossils are part of the vertebrate fossil collection at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, hence one of the co-authors, Robert T. Bakker’s (curator of palaeontology at the Houston museum), involvement in the study.

The specimen represents around 30% of an entire skeleton, it was excavated from upper Maastrichtian strata near the town of Baker (Montana), in 2003 and it was formerly part of the Black Hills Institute fossil collection (BHI 6230), hence the participation in the study by Pete Larson (Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, South Dakota).  The gracile form of the skeleton suggests that “Wyrex” was male.

Preserved Skin Impression on the Neck of “Wyrex”

Tyrannosaurus rex skin impression.

Preserved integument from the neck (b) of T. rex specimen HMNS 2006.1743.01

Picture credit: Biology Letters

“Wyrex” is Special

“Wyrex” is special, as in association with the fossilised bones and teeth, several patches of the integument are preserved as impressions.  These impressions represent skin from the neck, the pelvic area and from the tail.  The tail skin impressions are the most numerous, but all of them combined do not represent a very large part of the surface area of a T. rex.  The patches are very small ranging in size from less than a postage stamp in area to an impression of approximately 30 square centimetres, a tail skin impression that that would have covered less than a third of the screen on an average mobile phone.  Although these impressions are very small, any form of integument preservation is remarkable and they have provided an invaluable insight.

Integument of Tyrannosaurus rex (HMNS 2006.1743.01)

The extent of the skin impressions.

The extent of the skin impressions on the “Wyrex” specimen.

Picture credit: Biology Letters

Skin Impressions on Tyrannosaurus rex Fossil

The picture above shows impressions and where they are located on the T. rex (see silhouette).  Three bones are shown (a), they are bones from near the base of the tail (caudal vertebrae 6-8) which are associated with skin impressions (f), (g) and (h).  Integument from the neck (b, c) and from the ilium (pelvis) in (d, e).  The line drawings show the great variation in the size and shape of the scales.  The researchers highlight the variety of the scales, some are elliptical, some are elongated, whilst others are irregular six-sided polygons.

Note the scale bars, in a lot of the media coverage, the actual size of the impressions has not been reported, the scale bars in the picture above:

(a) = 10 centimetres, (b-e) = 5 millimetres and (f-h) = 10 millimetres

Not Just Tyrannosaurus rex Skin in the Study

To the north of Montana, lies the Canadian Province of Alberta.  Geography lesson over, but noting the location of Montana is significant, as scientists from the University of Alberta and the Royal Tyrrell Museum (also in Alberta), have played a part in this research.  Illustrious figures from the world of palaeontology such as Professor Phil Currie and Scott Persons (University of Alberta) and Darren Tanke (Royal Tyrrell Museum).  These luminaries along with Nicolás Campione (Uppsala University, Sweden), have helped compile a new data set plotting tyrannosauroid integument against body size.

This study looked at fossil skin impressions from a number of other Late Cretaceous relatives of T. rex, monsters such as Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus, all from North America, plus Tarbosaurus from Asia.

The Late Cretaceous Daspletosaurus (Fossils found in Montana and Alberta)

A sitting Daspletosaurus.

The fearsome tyrannosaurid Daspletosaurus.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model (above) is the CollectA Prehistoric Life Daspletosaurus.

To view this model range: CollectA Prehistoric Life Replicas.

Large-bodied Forms had Scaly Skin

The research team conclude that these large-bodied forms possesses scaly, reptilian-like skin.  By mapping integument against body size against the tyrannosauroids, a more extensive data set than just the Tyrannosauridae family, the team postulate that large body-size evolved two times in the evolutionary history of this substantial group.  Early tyrannosauroids such as Yutyrannus (Y. huali), which was feathered, was part of one branch of the tyrannosauroids that became giants and gigantism occurred again in later tyrannosaurids such as T. rex, Gorgosaurus, Albertosaurus et al.

The data suggests that shaggy, feathery coats as found in some early tyrannosauroids, were lost by the Albian faunal stage (around 112 million years ago).  Later tyrannosaurs, those that were the ancestors of the very last members of the Tyrannosauridae to evolve, did not have feathery coats.

 Yutyrannus Roamed Northern China 125 Million Years Ago

A flock of Yutyrannus.

Giant theropod with Feathers from Liaoning Province

Picture credit: Brian Choo

To read an article about the discovery of Yutyrannus hualiOne Tonne Feathered Tyrannosaur.

Yutyrannus – A Tyrannosaur Game Changer

The discovery of a large (up to nine metres long and weighing 1.4 Tonnes), tyrannosaur provided evidence that giant theropods could have been covered in a shaggy coat.  Prior to the description of Y. huali (the name means beautiful feathered tyrant), back in 2012, the only tyrannosaurs discovered with proto-feathers were much smaller animals, dinosaurs such as Dilong, (D. paradoxus), which also roamed China.  It had been thought that smaller tyrannosaurs, with their warm-blooded metabolisms evolved feathers to help keep their bodies insulated.  However, here was a much larger dinosaur, one that was also covered in feathers.

In this new research, the scientists conclude that the environment that Late Cretaceous giants such as Albertosaurus and T. rex lived in had a similar climate to the environment that Yutyrannus lived in millions of years before.  They discount the idea that the big Late Cretaceous tyrannosaurs had feathers to keep them warm.  The larger the animal, the smaller the surface area compared to their volume and therefore big creatures tend to be better at retaining heat than smaller ones.  In the paper, it is argued that a big, thick coat of feathers may have been a real hindrance to a Tyrannosaurus rex, as its active lifestyle could have given it serious problems with over-heating.

A Close View of the Skin Impression over the Pelvic Area (Ilium) of T. rex

Scales on a T. rex.

T. rex integumentary covering over the ilium.

Picture credit: Biology Letters

Tyrannosauroid versus Tyrannosauridae

The assessment of these scale impressions along with the analysis of tyrannosauroid integument against body size does not necessarily mean that T. rex was definitely covered in scaly skin.  This new research may cast doubt on the idea of an adult, Late Cretaceous tyrannosaur looking like a giant chicken, but it is important to note that the researchers comment that dinosaurs such as Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus and T. rex may have had feathers on those parts of the their body which are not represented by skin impressions in the fossil record – on their backs, or around the top of the head for example, hence the partially feathered Tyrannosaurus rex image featured in this article.

As juveniles, having an insulating covering of downy feathers does make anatomical sense.  The idea that members of the Tyrannosauridae may have had feathers at some stage of their lives cannot be discounted in the same way as that stating that T. rex may have had feathers on some parts of the body cannot be discounted as we lack the fossil evidence to disprove this statement.

The scientists do state that whilst more basal members of the Tyrannosauroidea may have had feathers, later more derived tyrannosaurs, those animals within the family Tyrannosauridae probably did not.   The key word to note is “probably”.

Let’s quickly explain what this means.

An Ancient Lineage of Dinosaurs

The tyrannosaurs are a very ancient lineage of dinosaurs, they evolved in the Jurassic and persisted right up until the Cretaceous mass extinction event.  The clade Tyrannosauroidea represents the family Tyrannosauridae, to which Albertosaurus, Tarbosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus and T. rex are part, along with more basal, earlier tyrannosaurs.

Tyrannosauroids and Tyrannosauridae Explained

Tyrannosauroids and Tyrannosauridae members.

The difference between the Tyrannosauroidea and the Tyrannosauridae.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

In the simplified diagram above, the Tyrannosauridae family is shown as being a part of the larger Tyrannosauroidea clade.  Some well-known examples of the Tyrannosauroidea clade as well as members of the Tyrannosauridae family are listed.

The Preservation Factor

Only in very exceptional circumstances can delicate feathers and proto-feathers be preserved.  Tough skin has a better preservation potential than filamentous feathers that formed a shaggy coat.  Feathers could have been present in members of the Tyrannosauridae, but they simply have not been preserved, so we have no evidence of their existence. Experiments revealing how the corpses of birds decay may help palaeontologists to better understand what happens to feathers after death and their likelihood of being preserved.

Conclusions

In what is a thought provoking and well-argued piece, the scientists comment that their findings reveal significant changes within the integument of tyrannosauroids, especially when compared to skin impressions of later members of the Tyrannosauridae.  These changes in body coverings require better understanding and further evidence to help palaeontologists to explain them.  The unambiguous loss of extensive body coverings in the Tyrannosauridae merits further discussion.

To mark the publication of the Biology Letters article, we cooked chicken.  We left the skin on and from the picture below, you can see the skin but there are no signs of the feathers that would have covered parts of the bird.  We suspect that this debate over the appearance of more derived tyrannosaurs is going to rumble on.

Commemorating the Publication with a Chicken Dish

Cooked chicken showing the skin.

Cooked chicken, you can see the skin but not much evidence of feathers.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Which Do You Prefer Feathered or Non-Feathered?

Did T. rex have feathers?

Which do you prefer a feathered or a non-feathered T. rex?

The scientific paper: “Tyrannosauroid Integument Reveals Conflicting Patterns of Gigantism and Feather Evolution”, by Phil R. Bell, Nicolás E. Campione, W. Scott Persons, Philip J. Currie, Peter L. Larson, Darren H. Tanke, Robert T. Bakker published in the Royal Society Biology Letters.

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.

Go to Top