HP Tim Williams icluded this in a post
yesterday:
"Note added in proof: Norell et al. (2002) describe a new specimen of
a
basal dromaeosaur (possibly a _Sinornithosaurus_) from the 124 Ma old
Yixian
formation of China that has preserved impressions of modern
pennaceous
feathers including a rachis, barbs, and a planar vane.
Occasional separation
of barbs in the feather vanes document presence of
differentiated barbules
as in _Archaeopteryx_ and modern birds.
Feathers on the tip of the tail are
>19 cm long, and the beautifully
preserved feathers on the upper hindlimbs
are 13.5 cm long. This
latest discovery conclusively demonstrates the
theropod origin of feathers
and birds."
Does anybody know if any photos of this specimen
are available anywhere? (or any more details?)
Regards
Michael Lovejoy
Okay,
class. In unision:
"WAIT.
FOR. THE. PAPER."
Trust
me on this; you will not have long to wait.
Thomas R. Holtz,
Jr.
Vertebrate
Paleontologist
Department of Geology
Director, Earth, Life & Time
Program
University of Maryland
College Park
Scholars
College Park, MD
20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/tholtz.htm
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone:
301-405-4084 Email: tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax
(Geol): 301-314-9661 Fax (CPS-ELT):
301-405-0796
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