365NEWSX
365NEWSX
Subscribe

Welcome

The First Dinosaur Feather Ever Found Is Still Controversial - Gizmodo

The First Dinosaur Feather Ever Found Is Still Controversial - Gizmodo

The First Dinosaur Feather Ever Found Is Still Controversial - Gizmodo
Sep 30, 2020 1 min, 12 secs

A fossilized feather found 159 years ago in Germany has returned to the paleontological spotlight, with new research declaring the feather as having come from the bird-like Archaeopteryx, much to the chagrin of dissenting scientists.

When found out of context, an isolated feather fossil presents a serious headache for paleontologists.

This connection wasn’t altogether outrageous, as modern scientists found other reasons to connect the iconic bird-like dinosaur to the isolated feather.

Last year, a research paper co-authored by paleontologist Michael Pittman from the University of Hong Kong cast some serious shade onto this assumption, concluding that the isolated feather belongs to some “unknown feathered dinosaur” and most certainly not Archaeopteryx.

The researchers examined “every feather in every Archaeopteryx fossil, every single barb of the isolated feather, and every relevant piece of literature on the feather from the 1800s until today,” said Carney.

The isolated feather fossil appears to be a primary covert—one that’s identical in size and shape to those seen on the top surface of the Archaeopteryx wing, according to the research.

It may sound superfluous to devote so much time and energy to a single feather, but as Carney pointed out, no known feathered dinosaur other than Archaeopteryx can currently account for this fossil.

It may sound superfluous to devote so much time and energy to a single feather, but as Carney pointed out, no known feathered dinosaur other than Archaeopteryx can currently account for this fossil.

Summarized by 365NEWSX ROBOTS

RECENT NEWS

SUBSCRIBE

Get monthly updates and free resources.

CONNECT WITH US

© Copyright 2024 365NEWSX - All RIGHTS RESERVED