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Discoveries Link Birds to Dinosaurs

Did birds evolve from dinosaurs? Two recent discoveries add evidence to scientists' theory that they did. The dinosaur fossils, which were unearthed in Liaoning (lee-ow-ning) province, in China, were announced this month in the science journal Nature.

Mark Norell, a paleontologist from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, helped describe the fossils. Norell and dinosaur experts from China named one fossil Dilong paradoxus. It is about 130 million years old and a close relative of the fierce Tyrannosaurus rex. Dilong is the first dinosaur in T. rex's group found with a featherlike covering. This suggests that some tyrannosaurs--even T. rex babies--were soft and fluffy.

The second find, which the scientists named Mei long, is the first dinosaur fossil found in a sleeping position. With its head tucked between its elbow and body and its tail wrapped around it to keep warm, the dinosaur looks like a resting bird. Researchers believe that some dinosaurs were warm-blooded, like birds.

Discoveries over the past two decades have strengthened the connection between birds and dinosaurs. Norell told TFK that the recent finds "show just how birdlike many dinosaurs were."

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