Feathers fly in first bird debate

[sianrose]

Another new theory...surely they are having a laugh! "A chicken-sized dinosaur fossil found in China may have overturned a long-held theory about the origin of birds. For 150 years, a species called Archaeopteryx has been regarded as the first true bird, representing a major evolutionary step away from dinosaurs. But the new fossil suggests this creature was just another feathery dinosaur and not the significant link that palaeontologists had believed. The discovery of Xiaotingia, as it is known, is reported in Nature magazine. The authors of the report argue that three other species named in the past decade might now be serious contenders for the title of "the oldest bird". Archaeopteryx has a hallowed place in science, long hailed as not just the first bird but as one of the clearest examples of evolution in action. Discovered in Bavaria in 1861 just two years after the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species, the fossil seemed to blend attributes of both reptiles and birds and was quickly accepted as the "original bird". But in recent years, doubts have arisen as older fossils with similar bird-like features such as feathers and wishbones and three fingered hands were discovered. Now, renowned Chinese palaeontologist Professor Xu Xing believes his new discovery has finally knocked Archaeopteryx off its perch..... full article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14307985

An artist's impression of the new creature from China. How will it change our view of the origin of birds?

[sweetwillow58]

this isnt really on topic but this bird looks like he is wearing fringed chaps lol

[Dages]

If it was from Japan, that'd be a "pokemon"

[trottigy]

I love the BLUE feathers. I wonder how they know they were blue

[LuanaGlobal]

Blue could just be a popular color.

Anyhow....Does it taste like chicken?

[trottigy]

Blue could just be a popular color.

Anyhow....Does it taste like chicken?

Maybe, Jehovah will recreate all the extinct animals. That would REALLY undo all the works of the devil wouldn't it? Anyway, if he does - we'll get to see them in all their glory.

[destiny]

Blue could just be a popular color.

Anyhow....Does it taste like chicken?

Maybe, Jehovah will recreate all the extinct animals. That would REALLY undo all the works of the devil wouldn't it? Anyway, if he does - we'll get to see them in all their glory.

Jerry are we talking about a resurrection for the animals too?

[trottigy]

Not resurrecting, but re-creating. Make a pair of each dinosaur / animal that is now extinct and put them on a very large island and call it Jurassic Park )'>

[Rachel]

Silly scientists! Don't they realize how they contradict each other and one new discovery can overthrow everything they thought was a 'fact'.

And that 'bird' looks really funny.