T-Rex looks like a GIANT CHICKEN.... maybe :)

[Zoink]

From the current issue of Scientific American [paraphrased summary]:

Recent fossil finds in China indicate that feathers first evolved on carnivorous dinosaurs prior to the branch of therapods that eventually became birds. The implications for this is that dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex was most likely covered in feathers to some degree.

The article gives a detailed explanation for the various evolutionary steps in feather development (based partly on fossil finds, and partly on how an actual feather grows). The early feathers were a tubular structure (similar to hair or fur) that latter split to form a downy-type feather (fuzzy dinos?). By the time of the T-Rex, feathers had developed into clear flat shapes, and indicates that many dinosaurs might have had things like fanned tails (they found one dino with this) or other distinct feather shapes (possibly for courtship?)

One of the most important finds was a dinosaur that had completely developed flight feathers (with asymmetrical airfoil shape), with these feathers being on both arms and legs... suggesting that flight developed from tree dwelling dinosaurs who first used feathers to extend jumping (like flying squirrels), and not to help running (a competing theory).

[Joe]

[Montcalm]

A giant chicken that can eat you in one bite

[jegs2]

A giant chicken that can eat you in one bite

A giant chicken probably would eat you in one bite.

[Wicked Pilot]

T-Rex looks like a GIANT CHICKEN

Yeah, go ahead and call T-Rex a pussy to his face. Just make sure you're a fast runner.

[SirNitram]

I'll have a drumstick.

[Frank Hipper]

I'll have a drumstick.

When I was a kid, every time I'd eat chicken I'd pretend to be eating dinosaur. Probably a common childhood musing, unless I'm just SICK!

[Montcalm]

I'll have a drumstick.

When I was a kid, every time I'd eat chicken I'd pretend to be eating dinosaur. Probably a common childhood musing, unless I'm just SICK!

So you must be Fred Flintstone

[Peregrin Toker]

From the current issue of Scientific American [paraphrased summary]:

Recent fossil finds in China indicate that feathers first evolved on carnivorous dinosaurs prior to the branch of therapods that eventually became birds. The implications for this is that dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex was most likely covered in feathers to some degree.

It comes as no surprise to me. After all, birds evolved from carnivorous dinosaurs so they probably looked alike.

[Bartman]

Excellent. Now I just need a time machine and my plan for a line of Utahraptor down products will be complete. Pillow anyone?

[Korvan]

Regardless of whether or not dinos really were covered in feathers, I prefer the look of the classic feather-free T-Rex. Feathers just don't look tough enough.

[Captain Jack]

I'll have a drumstick.

When I was a kid, every time I'd eat chicken I'd pretend to be eating dinosaur. Probably a common childhood musing, unless I'm just SICK!

You could feed a small army on a few of those.

[lgot]

I have one article, which i believe is the same, it says the ordem which belong the T.Rex had members found with feathers, not the T.Rex (i am not specialist, but If i am not mistaken, T.Rexs are from North America, not from China).

[Zoink]

I have one article, which i believe is the same, it says the ordem which belong the T.Rex had members found with feathers, not the T.Rex (i am not specialist, but If i am not mistaken, T.Rexs are from North America, not from China).

Actually the article had little mention on T-Rex, it was essentially about feather evolution in dinosaurs and mainly focused on the recent Asian finds and how they are helping complete theories on feather evolution (it had one line about T-Rex most likely having feathers).... my emphasis on the T-Rex is simply for, um, "thread marketing reasons"

The author did provide a chart giving the common ancestor between the Tyrannosauroids, and others branches like Raptors and the various bird-like branches as most likely having "stage 3" (flat planar) feathers.

There is no fossils showing direct evidence for a feathered T-Rex, however.


[edit]The tyrannosauroids existed in both Asia and North America, but I believe the T-Rex itself lived only in North America.[/edit]

[lgot]

ah,
must be the same article then (I would be sure but my younger brother, the true biologist, told me about a newer article, so i wasnt sure)...and yeah
that is what I meant, there is a list that linked to Tyranossauroids (not the Rex one) which was not surprising after all...
and Liked I was not sure, the T.Rex is north american only (not the other Tyranos)...
It is a interesting article, even to those out of the biology field (because turn harder to understand all the description of the feather structure) but for the meaning and the futher argument which anyone with a slighty interest in evolution can understand.

[Darth Gojira]

From the current issue of Scientific American [paraphrased summary]:

Recent fossil finds in China indicate that feathers first evolved on carnivorous dinosaurs prior to the branch of therapods that eventually became birds. The implications for this is that dinosaurs like the Tyrannosaurus Rex was most likely covered in feathers to some degree.

The article gives a detailed explanation for the various evolutionary steps in feather development (based partly on fossil finds, and partly on how an actual feather grows). The early feathers were a tubular structure (similar to hair or fur) that latter split to form a downy-type feather (fuzzy dinos?). By the time of the T-Rex, feathers had developed into clear flat shapes, and indicates that many dinosaurs might have had things like fanned tails (they found one dino with this) or other distinct feather shapes (possibly for courtship?)

One of the most important finds was a dinosaur that had completely developed flight feathers (with asymmetrical airfoil shape), with these feathers being on both arms and legs... suggesting that flight developed from tree dwelling dinosaurs who first used feathers to extend jumping (like flying squirrels), and not to help running (a competing theory).

I'm sure the chicks did. What would a five-ton predator use with feathers? Maybe a ploy to get those pesky Ankylosaurs to roll over with laughter(please, no more arguments about super Rexes, it just gives me a headache).

[Peregrin Toker]

Feathers just don't look tough enough.

Tell that to a peregrine falcon.

[Zoink]

I'm sure the chicks did. What would a five-ton predator use with feathers? Mabye a ploy to get those pesky Ankylosaurs to roll over with laughter(please, no more arguments about super Rexes, it just gives me a headache).

Possible one of three things:

Insulation, protection, and/or color.

Insulation to help keep body temperature constant. Perhaps to protect again skin abrasion. And perhaps certain colors could have been adapted for either hunting or sexual selection (maybe the tyranno chicks only digged a guys with a well developed mohawk... ie. a sign of good health).

Of course, if an alien only had human bones, but had evidence of monkeys and our common ancestors being covered in fur, then they might speculate that humans are covered in fur too (they'd only be partly right).

The degree of coverage is completely unkown: maybe the chicks would have small feathers that are lost later on. Maybe its only limited coverage in certain areas (evolution's way of saying: hey why not?), or maybe they looked like big fuzzy wuzzy woolly sheep (OK, so let's keep this the last option).

[LadyTevar]

I'm sure the chicks did. What would a five-ton predator use with feathers? Mabye a ploy to get those pesky Ankylosaurs to roll over with laughter(please, no more arguments about super Rexes, it just gives me a headache).

Possible one of three things:

Insulation, protection, and/or color.

Insulation to help keep body temperature constant. Perhaps to protect again skin abrasion. And perhaps certain colors could have been adapted for either hunting or sexual selection (maybe the tyranno chicks only digged a guys with a well developed mohawk... ie. a sign of good health).

Of course, if an alien only had human bones, but had evidence of monkeys and our common ancestors being covered in fur, then they might speculate that humans are covered in fur too (they'd only be partly right).

The degree of coverage is completely unkown: maybe the chicks would have small feathers that are lost later on. Maybe its only limited coverage in certain areas (evolution's way of saying: hey why not?), or maybe they looked like big fuzzy wuzzy woolly sheep (OK, so let's keep this the last option).

My two-bits worth...

Feathers are modified hair, right? So that means that the typical depliction of many dinosaurs as smooth-skinned may be in error. . . because they'd have had to have hair to modify.

[lgot]

THink before talking.
The way you say, the feather and birds had to be developed by hairy animals, which means, Mammals would have feathers instead of Dinos.
Feathers are not modificated hair. Both are different adaptations of skin, in the feathers propabally from scales.

[Darth Yoshi]

Milady, feathers are actually modified scales.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

T-Rex looks like a GIANT CHICKEN

Yeah, go ahead and call T-Rex a pussy to his face. Just make sure you're a fast runner.

You don't even have to run that fast. A human could likely outrun a T-rex. The key would be how long you could keep it up.

[generator_g1]

Weren't the T-Rex and its relatives (Albertosaurus etc) originally from Asia, then migrated along the land bridge in the Bering Strait and eventually settled in North America? Allosaurs were the main carnosaurs in NA until they were replaced by Rexy.

[ArmorPierce]

I think that T-Rex looks like a giant hairless ostrich.

[Admiral Valdemar]

So long as Rex beats the crap out of that damn overrated Spinosaur, I'll be happy even if it goosesteps around in a pink tutu listening to N*Sync whilst chomping Krispy Kremes.