Artist’s impression of a group of Yutyrannus and two individuals of the smaller Beipiaosaurus. Credit: Brian Choo |
Enormous, predatory, and a cousin to the iconic T. rex — the discovery of the 30-foot (9.1-meter) Yutyrannus huali was the sort that should have elated dinosaur lovers.
But news that the beast sported "fuzzy" feathers sparked outcry from traditionalists, notes the Smithsonian Magazine's blog Dinosaur Tracking.
Until this discovery was announced in early April, feathers were generally associated with smaller and more birdlike dinosaurs, according to the post. But the paleontologists who analyzed fossil remains of the newly discovered dinosaur, whose name means "beautiful feathered tyrant," found evidence of fuzz.
Reposted from Live Science