A new feathered dinosaur is cited as a step to evolve into birds, and scientists call it "Wulong bohaiensis" or the dancing dragon. Examined by Ashley Post, who studied the specimen brought the feathered dinosaur to the attention of the scientific community because of what it represented in dinosaur evolution. The impact of how flight arose, and what functions the feathers had been one of the most important questions about this unique specimen.
Finding this new dinosaur in the fossil-rich Jehol Province, more than ten years ago in china and it resides in the Dalian Natural History Museum in Liaoning. The fossilized remains were examined by Post, with his advisor, David Varricchio that led to the study.
Based on the fossil remains, the Wulong bohaiensis is as big as a crow, a bit smaller than a raven. It had a long bony tail that is twice the size of it, and a narrow face armed with sharp teeth. Its bones were similar to a bird's that were small and thin, covered with feathers on the body. It had wings on the legs and feet, on the tail's end were dual plumes.
One of the earliest dinosaurs that are kin to the Velociraptor, which lived about 75 million years ago (MYA). One of its other relatives is the Microraptor which is a species of paravian dinosaurs. It had always been suspect, the connection of dinosaurs and birds. The existence of the Wulong is the proof, there is indeed a relation. It adds to how avians began based on current knowledge.
Researchers are confusing with several features that were found in adult birds, with feathers that could have been a younger animal too. Using bone histology as a tool, to examine the pieces under the microscope look for clues. It was even applied to check for evidence, another dinosaur as a close relative which had a similar appearance to a Sinornithosaurus.
Bone histology is one process for further study of fossils, but it will be damaging fossils purposely. Not all institutions are quite obliging but the co-authors of the study, allow it which gave more data on the Wulong. Without the bone fragment, the finding on the Wulong would not have been so amazing too. Processes in finding out what needs to be done are important to answer any questions.
One of the biggest questions is whether young dinosaurs needed those tail plumes for a specific task. Another is whether those feathers are for something else than as used birds of today.
Some surprises from the fragment from the Sinornithosaurus arose when examined. The fragment revealed that the dinosaur was still growing, it was given away because it did not have an external fundamental system. It is usually found outside of the bone when back-boned animals are already mature and full-sized. Histology points out the lack of structure and in a growing animal but it was not that accurate.
Learning about the Wulong bohaiensis is an important chapter in the evolution of dinosaurs to birds. Finding this like provides a window into the cretaceous era and adds more to how dinosaurs and birds are intricately connected. Another is the evolution of feathers that portents more as dinosaurs may have had them too.
Read: One-of-a-Kind Dinosaur Specimen Discovered in China Offers View Into Dinosaur-Bird Evolution
