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DreamGypsy

(2,252 posts)
Thu Mar 14, 2013, 02:25 PM Mar 2013

Early birds flew on four wings

...reported in Nature:

Instead of two wings, the first birds might have used four feathered limbs to stay aloft, according to research published today in Science.

Birdlike dinosaurs, such as Microraptor and Sinornithosaurus, are known to have had long, sturdy feathers on their hindlimbs. But until now, researchers were not sure whether the earliest birds had already abandoned this extra plumage when they emerged to take to the Cretaceous skies over 100 million years ago.

The researchers, led by Xing Xu, a palaeontologist at the Institute of Geology and Paleontology in Shandong, China, found evidence of feathers on the hindlimbs of 11 basal bird specimens (gathered from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group in China)3. On some of the individuals, these feathers appeared to be veined flight feathers that stood perpendicular to the leg bones, similar to those in the basal bird Archaeopteryx.

One specimen, attributed to the Sapeornis genus, had at least one hindlimb feather longer than 50 millimetres. Feathers on the feet were shorter, but were still more than 30 millimetres long.

"It is amazing that so many early birds had large leg feathers," Xu says. The first winged dinosaurs were discovered just 10 years ago, he notes. These findings "are important for both flight origin and feather evolution".


The hind limb plumage has been reported before, but this analysis "provides solid evidence for the existence of enlarged leg feathers on a variety of basal birds, suggest that extensively scaled feet might have appeared secondarily at an early stage in ornithuromorph evolution, and demonstrate a distal-to-proximal reduction pattern for leg feathers in avialan evolution."

Monoplane dinosaurs, biplane dinosaurs, what's next ... helicopters?
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Early birds flew on four wings (Original Post) DreamGypsy Mar 2013 OP
Cool libodem Mar 2013 #1
All aboard! Grandkids rule! nt Mnemosyne Mar 2013 #2
I can not believe how smart libodem Mar 2013 #3
Mine are 3 1/2 and almost 12, they amaze me all the time. I sit the youngest a few days a week and Mnemosyne Mar 2013 #4
I hear you libodem Mar 2013 #5
You are so lucky it's getting nice wherever you are at, I miss going to the parks and Peninsula. Mnemosyne Mar 2013 #6
I'm at a similar age libodem Mar 2013 #7
They are my heart and sanity. Mnemosyne Mar 2013 #8
And I'll bet libodem Mar 2013 #9
My Nana was a tiny woman that went to business school in the 1920's and worked in an office until Mnemosyne Mar 2013 #10

libodem

(19,288 posts)
1. Cool
Thu Mar 14, 2013, 02:35 PM
Mar 2013

Dinosaur Train, is my favorite when the grandkids are over. I recognized some of the names and periods.

Mnemosyne

(21,363 posts)
4. Mine are 3 1/2 and almost 12, they amaze me all the time. I sit the youngest a few days a week and
Thu Mar 14, 2013, 03:29 PM
Mar 2013

omg is he fast! I'm sooo tired!

libodem

(19,288 posts)
5. I hear you
Sat Mar 16, 2013, 02:25 PM
Mar 2013

I have the 2 1/2 y/o and his 11 month old brother, two half days, every week. The baby can walk. I run the whole time.
The older one is so curious right now, about all things on my dresser top. I think the other grandma hides candy? He's looking in all the small keepers with lids, for whatever, he can see. So bright and far too quick.

Thank goodness we can spend some time outdoors, now. We aren't trapped in the house. Crocuses are up. Sun is out!

And Dinosaur Train at 10:00. My favorite.

Mnemosyne

(21,363 posts)
6. You are so lucky it's getting nice wherever you are at, I miss going to the parks and Peninsula.
Sun Mar 17, 2013, 08:30 AM
Mar 2013

The youngest is almost obsessed with Curious George and Scooby. He doesn't have tv at his home and I only have antenna, but do get PBS, and he watches all those shows when here. He thinks I can make them put on whatever he wants on tv, but he's learning.

I don't know how old you are, but I am near 55 and feel very old most days after chasing that little stinker. He is great company on errands though! I don't spoil them one bit.

Time goes so quickly and too soon they move on to their own lives and friends. The twelve year old is at that point and he's been the best 'date' I've had on the weekends in twenty years!

I intend to just enjoy them while I can and know you are too.


libodem

(19,288 posts)
7. I'm at a similar age
Sun Mar 17, 2013, 11:59 AM
Mar 2013

I'm 58 and have a bad back. So I feel it. But Iove having them here!!! I really enjoy it.

Sounds like you are, too.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
9. And I'll bet
Sun Mar 17, 2013, 01:45 PM
Mar 2013

You are to them. I have fond memories of my dear grandma. She was so small and sweet and worked so hard all her life.

Mnemosyne

(21,363 posts)
10. My Nana was a tiny woman that went to business school in the 1920's and worked in an office until
Sun Mar 17, 2013, 07:49 PM
Mar 2013

she retired at 65. I never heard her say a mean word about, or to, anyone, ever. The stories of her and my grand-aunt playing piano for booze in speakeasys were hysterical. They were feminists before anyone ever heard of one.

I wouldn't make it without my dear grandsons in my life. They are great kids!


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