Tyrannosaurus; Just Another Bird?

Artist's conception of Yutyrannus

T. rex relative is biggest ever feathered animal

A newly described relative of Tyrannosaurus rex is the largest known feathered animal - living or extinct. The feathered meat-eating dinosaur lived about 125 million years ago and is estimated to have weighed a whopping 1,400kg as an adult.

The new species, known as Yutyrannus, has been identified from three fossils found in north-eastern China. The finds, detailed in Nature journal, challenge current theories about the evolution of T.rex and its relations.

We've seen previously that dinosaurs are closely related to birds, and that, indeed, modern birds may be the last survivors of a branch of dinosaurs, including Tryrannosaurs.  Previous dinosaurs, especially those thought to be precursors to today's birds have been shown to have feathers, but this is the first finding that suggests that feathers may be been a fairly widespread adaption of the group, if a large species like Yutyrannus sported them, and that feather likely evolved for temperature control and perhaps display rather than as an aid to flight, which came later.

The dinosaur, whose name translates as "beautiful feathered tyrant", shares some features with later tyrannosaurs like T.rex, but has three functional fingers (where T. rex had two) and a foot typical of other early tyrannosaur relatives.

Perhaps the most notable discovery, however, is the creature's extensive plumage, which provides direct evidence for the existence of giant feathered dinosaurs.

The scientists think the long, filament-like feathers would have acted as insulation, but they cannot rule out the possibility that they were also used for display in mating or fighting rituals.

Hmm.  Do you think I'll find a dinobabe riding or killing a feathered raptor?  Not very likely! I guess we have to encourage the artists to re-envision their depictions of raptors in feathers.  In the meantime, take this Frank Cho picture of his favorite girl offing a raptor, and trying to put feathers on it mentally.

Thanks to Wombat-Socho at The Other McCain for getting his Rule 5 (Lobo Town) list together on such short notice after vacation.