New birdlike dino adds to debate

[Ravinar]

[attachmentid=25923]

Nicholas Bakalar

for National Geographic News

October 18, 2005

Using rock saws and a chisel, paleontologists working in Argentina's Rio Negro province have extracted the nearly complete skeleton of a rooster-size dinosaur.

The skeleton, from a group known as dromaesaurs, is about 90 million years old. Its presence in South America demonstrates that these birdlike dinosaurs probably arose much earlier than previously believed, according to the scientists who discovered the fossil. What's more, the structure of the creature indicates it had feathers but did not fly, suggesting that the species might be a "missing link" in determining the origins of flight.

Until now dromaesaurs have been found only in the Northern Hemisphere. Paleontologists had assumed that the species arose after Pangea, the Earth's original landmass, separated into Laurasia to the north and Gondwana to the south.

But the new discovery means that dromaesaurs must have appeared before the landmasses separated, about 150 million years ago.

The recently unearthed fossil, probably that of an adult animal, is in excellent condition. Only a few bones from other partial discoveries were needed to complete a fully articulated skeleton.

All together, four separate Buitreraptor fossils have now been found in the same region. But the latest is the most complete, what paleontologists call the holotype, or definitive example of a species.

sorc...http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1018_051018_feathered_dino.html

[frogfish]

Sounds like a type of microraptor to me...

[Master Sage]

I'm with frogfish!

[zandore]

The link to his source: news.nationalgeographic.com

The newly discovered animal is closely related to Velociraptor mongoliensis, the clever, fast-running predatory dinosaurs made famous in the movie Jurassic Park.

The dromaesaur had a long, beak-like snout; small widely spaced teeth; and a long tail. The odd proportions of its skull may have been an adaptation for hunting small burrowing mammals and reptiles, whose skeletons have been found near the remains of Buitreraptor.

[frogfish]

Could be a microraptor still...

[psyche101]

Amazing picture. Looks more like a crane than a dinosaur!!

[frogfish]

Evolution is amazing, eh?

[HarlequinDragon]

Interesting.

[Hehe]

I dont know how evoltion theory explains this but apparently ducks, or creatures with very duck-like features, where around 105-115 million years ago.

Creationists are having a field day with this find

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...-dinosaurs.html

http://www.geotimes.org/current/WebExtra061506.html

Edited June 27, 2006 by Hehe

[frogfish]

Hesperonis was another water-bird...

Looks more like a gannet or booby to me...