19 replies to this topic

[Still Waters]

www.dailymail.co.uk said:

Scientists have used a powerful microscope to image a feather from a dinosaur long thought to be a 'missing link' in the evolution of birds - and discovered it had rigid, black feathers just like today's birds.

Since its discovery 150 years ago, scientists have puzzled over whether the winged dinosaur Archaeopteryx is the missing link between dinosaurs and birds - and the moment when powered flight evolved.

Much of the debate has focused on the iconic creature's wings and the mystery of whether — and how well — it could fly.

Read more...

[Imaginarynumber1]

They really need to stop using the phrase 'missing link' in these kinds of stories. It only further confuses those that don't understand how evolution works.
That said, Archaeopteryx is the $h!t. I want one.

[star energy]

I want that tiny frog.

[bulveye]

I want a pet wolf.

[Garnettil]

i want a chocobo

[AmpleFyre]

Black is always pretty on ancient bird-like ancestors of birds.

[spud the mackem]

The picture looks like a vulture to me,and they have black feathers to,so have they found a black feathered vulture with a long tail ?.

[spud the mackem]

bulveye, on 25 January 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

I want a pet wolf.

   I wouldnt bother mate,it would only huff and puff and blow your house down...hee hee.Or you could phone Red Riding Hood and she would sort it.cheers.

[dharma warrior]

I'm sure that the Archaeopteryx chose black because it's so slimming.

[gnostic-deity]

looks like a turkey

[Imaginarynumber1]

Garnettil, on 25 January 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

i want a chocobo

I want a black Chocobo so I can fly around on it.

[Junior Chubb]

Interesting story, nice this bird has an 'official' colour now. When I was a lad I had a book about dinosaurs and Archaeopteryx  appeared on the last page sporting blue feathers with white tips. The article mentions examining 'a' feather (a single feather?), if this is the case could we have seen different coloured plumage elsewhere on the body?

I wonder this of dinosaurs, how accurate are the CGI dinosaurs skin colours in movies and documentaries? As a lad this was up for argument (so David Bellamy told me), have some dinosaur colours been resolved to or are we still just guessing?

Imaginarynumber1, on 25 January 2012 - 01:15 AM, said:

They really need to stop using the phrase 'missing link' in these kinds of stories. It only further confuses those that don't understand how evolution works.

Your right with this (especially when its not missing).

Edit: Spelling

Edited by Junior Chubb, 26 January 2012 - 12:27 AM.

[Junior Chubb]

dharma warrior, on 25 January 2012 - 09:03 PM, said:

I'm sure that the Archaeopteryx chose black because it's so slimming.

BTW purple is this years black

[Xanthurion2]

i think they should scan feathers of other specimens too. i didn't even think it would be possible to determine color from fossils

Edited by Xanthurion2, 26 January 2012 - 08:37 AM.

[Junior Chubb]

For those of you that are interested...

http://news.national...-science-wings/

Quote from above link "One of the first dinosaurs to take to the air had wings with at least one black feather, according to a new study."

Full render of Archaeopteryx - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/01/100127-dinosaurs-color-feathers-science/o/

Pigments have been found in fossil dinosaurs for the first time, a new study says - http://news.national...-colors-nature/