A sensational discovery: the tail of a dinosaur preserved in amber. Upierzony! – Interfax

the Story is very interesting.

still occasionally talking about some feathers encased in amber. But it was not possible to prove that among dinosaurs or birds of the Mesozoic era. Also sometimes talking about the prints of feathers in the skeletons of dinosaurs, particularly small theropods on its. However, this is the first case in which was kept so clearly proves the plumage of prehistoric reptiles: a perfectly preserved part of the tail with visible feathers, soft tissues and bones. There is no doubt that the fossil belonged to a bird.

Report on this subject published Thursday in “Current Biology”. International Chinese-canadian team led by paleontologist Lida Xinga from the Chinese Geological University, worked over him for several months.

found

the age of the amber, which was given the name “eve” in honor of the wife of one of the working on it paleontologów Philip Curry – rating 99 million years occurred at the beginning of the upper Cretaceous-the last period of the Mesozoic.

Visible fragment of the tail (only 37 millimeters in length, covered with soft, thick feathers, resembling the construction of sterówki. You can even determine their color – orzechowobrązowe on top and white underneath. Between the stuck fragments of soft tissues, probably muscles, ligaments and skin.

Thanks to the study tomograficznemu failed to establish that the preserved fragment of the tail contains eight circles of the Central part or the final tail.

Lida Xing

According to the definition of a group of scientists, the whole tail should be considered normal. 25 laps or more. This indicates that he belonged to a small, young predator, probably of celurozaurów (the one which belonged to tyrannosaurs, or… modern birds).

that tail, of course, belonged to Gad, and not the lark, indicates the structure of the vertebrae – not Siamese in pygostyl (triangular coccyx), and have a “free” construction that allows movement. The authors previously have even narrowed our circle of “suspects” to maniraptorów – subgroup celurozaurów belong owiraptory, cenognaty whether deinonychozaury, that is, reptiles, appearance close to the popular in pop culture with the raptors.

Lida Xing

Thanks to the research was also able to conclude that the animal, which belonged to the tail, probably was already dead and already partially drained of fluid at a time in which “nakapała” on not tar. This led to the partial mummification of the tail, “fusing” open bone fragment to the rock, and today it is allowed, in particular, for chemical research skamieniałej tissue.

thus?

Group Xinga likened the discovery with the advent of the same place, embedded in the amber of the wings, most likely, ptasimi, which researchers wrote in July of this year. Differences in the structure of the feathers is obvious .The researchers clearly indicate that described previously, the fossil was discovered great similarities with today’s avian wings, as in the construction of the feathers and anatomy.

the plumage of the tail is another matter entirely.

If the whole tail was covered with feathers, as preserved in amber, this animal could not fly.

the type of the pen serve rather for ornament or alarm information to other representatives of the genre, stresses Ryan McKellar, a member of the team from the canadian Museum of Saskatchewan.

Lida Xing

Very interesting also the history of the amber. The photos show the stone internal threaded and already formed. “Eve” was found in the amber mine in the Hukawng Valley in the North of Myanmar. Dr. Linda Shin told National Geographic that amber along with other samples (including those with wings) bought in Burma already framed in silver as a product of jewelry.

Hukawng Valley is the region which produced industrial amber contains many well-preserved various remains of animals and plants from all posts that were examined by scientists. It can be called paleontologiczną Mecca. Many of these priceless finds gets, however, for private collections and jewelry stores.

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