Chinese archaeologists recently discovered the earliest feathered dinosaur in the western part of Liaoning Province, named the Kongzi Tianwu Dinosaur. Its feathers may not have been used for flight or warmth but rather for… decoration!
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Reconstruction image of the Kongzi Tianwu Dinosaur (Image: THX) |
This discovery is considered highly significant as it not only demonstrates the distribution of the Dimetrodon dinosaur extending into Asia but also fills a gap in the evolutionary timeline of early feathers.
The scientific journal “Nature” in China published this finding by Chinese scientists on March 19.
According to Mr. Tu Jing, a researcher at the Institute of Paleontology and Ancient Vertebrates of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, this Tianwu dinosaur was discovered in western Liaoning Province from a geological layer estimated to be over 100 million years old.
The most prominent feature of this species is that it is a swamp-dwelling creature, with sharp canine teeth and covered in tiny tubular fur.
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Photograph of the fossil specimen of the Kongzi Tianwu Dinosaur (Image: THX) |
The Dimetrodon species is relatively small in size and agile, but few fossils of this dinosaur have been discovered, primarily found in South Africa dating back to the early Tuli period, approximately 200 million years ago. The discovery by Chinese scientists has proven that the distribution of this dinosaur species is not limited to Africa but extends all the way to China.
According to Mr. Tu Jing, research results over the past decade regarding the fur of dinosaurs suggest that the primitive fur may not have been used for flight or warmth but likely served as a means of adornment and beautification.
This research was jointly conducted by scientists from the Tianwu Natural History Museum in Shandong, the Geological Institute of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and the Institute of Paleontology and Ancient Vertebrates. The specimen of the Tianwu Dinosaur is currently housed at the Tianwu Natural History Museum in Shandong, located in Pingyi County, Linyi City, Shandong Province.
Scientists named this specimen the “Kongzi Tianwu Dinosaur,” with “Tianwu” referring to the site of the fossil’s existence and discovery, while “Kongzi” is included in honor of the birthplace of Confucius, Qufu, which is not far from the discovery site of the Tianwu Dinosaur.
