A new dinosaur species, one with feathers, has been discovered in Russia. The finding could mean that feathers were more widespread among dinosaurs than previously thought, the researchers say.
“For the first time, we have found a dinosaur outside of the theropod lineage,” said the new study’s first author, Pascal Godefroit, a paleontologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
Theropods and ornithischians split about 220 million years ago, he said, adding: “This means that feathers probably existed in the common ancestors of both lineages. And all the descendants of this common ancestor potentially could have feathers as well.”
But proving it would be a challenge, he said. Feathers are not often fossilized, and paleontologists rarely find traces of them.
Dr. Godefroit said he hoped other feathers might be found near the newly discovered dinosaur. His finding was based on six partial skeletons and hundreds of bones in two neighboring locations.
If other species of dinosaurs were covered with feathers, then museum models, often depicted with leathery, scaly skin, may need to be changed.
“Perhaps it’s better to represent them as big chickens,” Dr. Godefroit said. “Maybe T. rex was some kind of big chicken.”
SINDYA N. BHANOO