ERTH 2401 Lecture Notes - Sinosauropteryx, Avialae, Ornithomimosauria

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: ERTH 2401
• Professor: Claudia Schroder- Adams

Document Summary

Lecture 15: feathered dinosaurs: what does the fossil record tell us about the early evolution of feathers, for many many years one of the more famous specimens for fossil feathers have been the archaeopteryx, found in germany, archaeopteryx. Less than 20 years ago, no feathered dinosaurs were known. Feathered dinosaur localities: most feathered dinosaurs are known from the early cretaceous jehol group of. Liaoning province, northeastern china: more recently, the middle-late jurassic rocks in this region have also produced feathered dinosaurs excellently preserved fossils due to continuous volcanic activity. Yixian formation, early cretaceous (124 million years old: discovered in 1996 first non-avialan dinosaur with feathers preserved, small theropod with very long tail and short arms, related to compsognathus no wing feathers lived on the ground. Short, downy feathers are preserved along the neck, back and tail. Protarchaeopteryx named in 1997 first non-avialan dinosaur with rectrices (tail fan feathers); symmatrical vaned feathered not capable of flight.