This is an artistic reconstruction of feathered ornithomimid dinosaurs which found in Alberta. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/) |
The current bird wings and feathers inherited from Ornithomimus edmontonicus, their dinosaur ancestors. The species is considered to be the first animal to develop feathers and wings in millions of years ago.
"Feathers and wing-like structures were originally developed to attract mates, not to fly or maintain body temperature," said Darla Zelenitsky, lead of paleontologist researcher from the University of Calgary, on Friday, October 26, 2012.
The team examined three fossil O.edmontonicus (one of the young people and two adult individuals) are found in the rock formation 75 million years old.
A fossil ornithomimid the preserves evidence of feathers. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/) |
"The structure is similar newly developed wings and feathers for flying and maintaining the body temperature at the next stage of evolution," said Zelenitsky, as quoted by the Telegraph. The findings are published in the journal Science.
Zelenitsky said arm-like wings at O.edmontonicus very different from modern birds. This new dinosaur arm stiff and covered with long hair at the age of adulthood. While the wings of modern birds evolved from an early age, soon after hatching from eggs.
"The pattern of development of wing-like arms is related to reproductive behavior, such as protecting the eggs and chicks," said Francois Therrien, a researcher from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology added.
A dinosaur feather tuft in fossil form. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/) |
Feathered dinosaurs is also the first fossils were found in the western hemisphere. So far, most of the feathered dinosaur fossils found at the site is limited in China and Germany. Fossils previously feathers found in rock layers just fine. "The new fossils were found in sandstone, showing more fossils to be found in rocks on ancient rivers around the world," said Therrien. *** [TELEGRAPH | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4039]
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