Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]






Shoot a firework rocket ~ Winners!
Make a forum zoo!

Welcome to The Round Table. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
Small Theropod Tail Preserved in Amber
Topic Started: Dec 8 2016, 01:59 PM (1,562 Views)
babehunter1324
No Avatar


http://phys.org/news/2016-12-amber-specimen-rare-glimpse-feathered.html#nRlv

Posted Image

While we had seen Non-Avian Dinosaur feathers preserved in amber before, this is the first time a portion of a non-avian Dinosaur has been preserved in amber.

An interesting detail is that while the tail feathers had no rachis they have barbs and barbules. Visually they look pretty similar to emu feathers.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Acinonyx Jubatus
Member Avatar
I AM THE UNSHRINKWRAPPER!

Wow.

The quality of preservation is just... Wow. You can EASILY imagine this still attached to a small theropod of some sort. Even with the debris obscuring it this is probably the closest we've ever come to actually seeing a full, live non-avian dinosaur.

Any data on what kind of dinosaur this came from? Compsognathid or dromaeosaurid or what?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
kepperbob
Member Avatar
- Pure Shardana -

* ''Jurassic park theme start playng''

Just Kidding, This is a really interesting find!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stargatedalek
Member Avatar
I'm not slow! That's just my moe!

Acinonyx Jubatus
Dec 8 2016, 02:23 PM
Any data on what kind of dinosaur this came from? Compsognathid or dromaeosaurid or what?
Nothing certain yet, but I'm reluctant to say a dromaeosaur given the vertebrae are not from the base of the tail and also aren't fused.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
PrimevalBrony
Member Avatar
Youtuber. Combat robotics fan

Nobody else gonna mention the fact that it was found in Burma which means it could almost certainly be a brand new species?
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
BossMan, Jake
Member Avatar
Son of God

Yes!! Best find of the year without a doubt!
If you listen closely you can hear Mesozoica fanboys screeming in anger and disgust
Edited by BossMan, Jake, Dec 8 2016, 05:31 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
the dark phoenix
Member Avatar
King of wonderlandia

SCREEEEEEEEEE!!!!! :D

I just had a amazing thought. Yes this is a tail and thus something still very important...but what if he had a non-avian dinosaur's face? Hell if it was small enough, a whole or good portion of a dinosaur?

Just the idea of a face predating us looking at us would make my blood run cold.

Of course this find is the opposite end of the dino from what I'm talking about but the idea of any part of a dino in amber sends me going crazy. :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
babehunter1324
No Avatar


stargatedalek
Dec 8 2016, 04:01 PM
Acinonyx Jubatus
Dec 8 2016, 02:23 PM
Any data on what kind of dinosaur this came from? Compsognathid or dromaeosaurid or what?
Nothing certain yet, but I'm reluctant to say a dromaeosaur given the vertebrae are not from the base of the tail and also aren't fused.
Also it doesn't have a pygostyle so it's almost certainly not an Oviraptorine.
Edited by babehunter1324, Dec 8 2016, 05:37 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ulquiorra
Member Avatar


the dark phoenix
Dec 8 2016, 05:36 PM
SCREEEEEEEEEE!!!!! :D

I just had a amazing thought. Yes this is a tail and thus something still very important...but what if he had a non-avian dinosaur's face? Hell if it was small enough, a whole or good portion of a dinosaur?

Just the idea of a face predating us looking at us would make my blood run cold.

Of course this find is the opposite end of the dino from what I'm talking about but the idea of any part of a dino in amber sends me going crazy. :D
Or the whole dinosaur, I mean if it's small enough so that it's tail gets trapped in amber, just imagine if it's whole body got stuck?

Also any estimates as to the age of the animal or the size of it it's safe to say a small dinosaur, but how small?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
the dark phoenix
Member Avatar
King of wonderlandia

There is a ant in the amber with it... good bases considering the general size right?

Also how do we know it isn't just the tip of the tail?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
HENDRIX
Member Avatar
-retired-

the dark phoenix
Dec 8 2016, 08:21 PM
There is a ant in the amber with it... good bases considering the general size right?

Also how do we know it isn't just the tip of the tail?
Because they X-rayed it and looked at the vertebrae.

But really, the thought of actually finding a face preserved in amber sends shivers down my spine. That would really be amazing, but this tail is so already, nonetheless.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
the dark phoenix
Member Avatar
King of wonderlandia

HENDRIX
Dec 8 2016, 08:40 PM
the dark phoenix
Dec 8 2016, 08:21 PM
There is a ant in the amber with it... good bases considering the general size right?

Also how do we know it isn't just the tip of the tail?
Because they X-rayed it and looked at the vertebrae.

But really, the thought of actually finding a face preserved in amber sends shivers down my spine. That would really be amazing, but this tail is so already, nonetheless.
Nature's a...well can't say that word here. We get the butt end but not the face only a mother or paleontologist would love.

Still a amazing find. BTW with the tail scanned. How did they come to the conclusion of coelurosaur? Wouldn't this be a shock if it was something else?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ulquiorra
Member Avatar


It's tail must have been delicate to break off like that though.

I can just imagine this scenario,

The dinosaur being attracted by the sight of insects trapped in the resin and it attempting to eat some of them, only to get a mouth full of sticky and possibly distasteful resin in the process. Then, whilst trying to shake the resin from it's mouth, it turns around and get's part of it's tail stuck in the resin and starts thrashing around to free itself, only for the part of the tail to snap off.
Edited by Ulquiorra, Dec 9 2016, 07:10 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
HENDRIX
Member Avatar
-retired-

I highly doubt the tail broke off just like that. Either it was bitten off before it fell into the resin, or the whole dinosaur was trapped and was separated from its tail post-mortem. Maybe the rest was also worn away by erosion of the amber.
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Incinerox
Member Avatar
Āeksiot Zaldrīzoti

HENDRIX
Dec 9 2016, 07:06 AM
or the whole dinosaur was trapped and was separated from its tail post-mortem. Maybe the rest was also worn away by erosion of the amber.
This sounds most plausible to me.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Extinct Animals & Evolution · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1