The perching dinosaur
Monday, March 12, 2012 , by
Kerry Sheridan
The perching dinosaur
US and Chinese researchers have found the oldest evidence of iridescent black feathers in Microraptor, a dinosaur the size of a small crow that perched in forest tree branches 130 million years ago.
Scientists think the glossy plumes may have helped the small, meat-eating dinosaur signal its good health and suitability as a mate to others, much the way fancy colours serve birds of our era.
The analysis was based on a fossil found in 2010 in northeastern China which shows the four-winged dinosaur skeleton and its long, tail-like hind limb embellished with a multi-plumed tip almost as long as its wing feathers.
Armed with more data than before about the creature’s physical characteristics and new ways to uncover the colours of feathers with scanning electron microscopes, scientists set about to uncover its hues.
More:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120312/world/The-perching-dinosaur.410740
