The Small Feathered Dinosaurs Found

At first glance, the results of the reconstruction of a small dinosaur fossil is more like a chicken than other dinosaur species, which resembles a giant reptile. Nevertheless, this species is a newly discovered of Jurassic period feathered dinosaur.

Reconstruction of Eosinopteryx brevipenna, a new theropod dinosaur with reduced plumage from the Middle/Late Jurassic of north-eastern China. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Although his body covered with feathers and wings, this dinosaur certainly can not fly, just like chicken. Eosinopteryx brevipenna fossils were discovered in northeast China. In the study that published on January 22 issue of the journal Nature Communications revealed that the skeletons of tiny fossils show that the dinosaurs were less than 30 centimeters in length and has a short snout and a long tail pick.

The Fossil specimen of Eosinopteryx brevipenna. (Picture from: http://blog.everythingdinosaur.co.uk/)

Based on the size of the wing span and bone structure, scientists believe the animal could run with agile, but may not be able to produce a large enough wings to fly. The dinosaur also has fingers that are suitable for walking on the ground.

1880 photo of the Berlin Archaeopteryx
specimen, showing leg feathers that
were subsequently removed during 
preparation. (Picture from:
 http://www.examiner.com/)

This birdlike dinosaur's plumage was much more reduced compared with the feathers on some of its contemporaries, which suggests that feathering was already diversified by the Late Jurassic, adapted to different ecological niches and purposes, the researchers said. (The Jurassic period lasted from about 199.6 million to 145.5 million years ago).

"These findings reinforce doubts about the theory that Archaeopteryx or often referred to as 'first bird' is the centre evolution of modern birds," said Gareth Dyke, Senior Lecturer in Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Southampton, UK. "Our findings suggest that the origin of the animals fly is much more complicated than previously thought."

Archaeopteryx was long thought by many to have been the earliest bird. Discovered in 1860 in Germany, it is sometimes referred to as Urvogel, the German word for "original bird" or "first bird." But this latest discovery suggests that Archaeopteryx is one of the relatives of the lineage that eventually became the ancestors of modern birds. *** [EKA | FROM VAROUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE | KORAN TEMPO 4128]

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