# Dinosaur feathers preserved in amber **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432 "2011-09-15T20:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/1 "2011-09-15T20:10:31Z")
I don’t really know why, but this just struck me as the coolest thing – apparently, actual [dinosaur feathers](http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/dinosaur-feathers-found-in-amber-reinforce-evolution-theories/245094/) have been found, nicely preserved in amber. Dinosaur feathers! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/2 "2011-09-15T21:38:08Z")
Wow. The SDMB fees are well worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/3 "2011-09-15T21:39:46Z")
Awesome! That’s getting shared. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/4 "2011-09-15T21:43:45Z")
Truely, awesome. Now I want an amber-with-dinosaur-feathers necklace. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/5 "2011-09-15T21:45:22Z")
I don’t understand how they know the feathers came from dinosaurs, and not birds. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/6 "2011-09-15T21:45:26Z")
Pretty great. Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/7 "2011-09-15T21:48:16Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I don’t understand how they know the feathers came from dinosaurs, and not birds. They can’t … but there is evidence pointing to it. From the article: > [@](#): > > They can’t determine which feathers belonged to birds or dinosaurs yet, but they did observe filament structures that are similar to those seen in other non-avian dinosaur fossils. In summary, fossils from dinosaurs do sometimes preserve filament structure, which appears similar to those seen in some of the amber specimins. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/8 "2011-09-15T22:12:18Z")
ah mah gahd So if they turn out to be dinosaur feathers, will I have to completely scrap my mental picture of dinosaurs as scaly monsters, and try to picture them as adorable feathered friends? Because that’s going to be a really tough transition. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/9 "2011-09-15T22:19:11Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > ah > mah > gahd > > So if they turn out to be dinosaur feathers, will I have to completely scrap my mental picture of dinosaurs as scaly monsters, and try to picture them as adorable feathered friends? Because that’s going to be a really tough transition. Hm. \:dubious::eek: \ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/10 "2011-09-15T22:24:41Z")
Yeah I’m thinking about being chased by an adorable, voracious raptor and it just does not compute. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/11 "2011-09-15T22:32:31Z")
Cool! > [@rachelellogram](#): > > Yeah I’m thinking about being chased by an adorable, voracious raptor and it just does not compute. Think about the [legs and feet of the ostrich](http://www.google.ca/search?q=ostrich+legs&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Fn0&rls=org.mozilla:eo:official&biw=1314&bih=886&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=1HxyTsSUDMbo0QHUv6T8DQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBwQ_AUoAQ), and then imagine being chased by a [terror bird](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhacidae). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/12 "2011-09-15T22:43:53Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > So if they turn out to be dinosaur feathers, will I have to completely scrap my mental picture of dinosaurs as scaly monsters, and try to picture them as adorable feathered friends? Because that’s going to be a really tough transition. I have pet birds. Having seen a parrot in full on RAR! I’M FURIOUS KILL KILL KILL! rage I have no trouble seeing a distant relationship between _T. rex_ and my cute little birdies. I’m just glad mine aren’t the size of _Jurassic Park_ velocioraptors. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/13 "2011-09-15T22:56:43Z")
Well even if it is dinosaur feathers, wouldn’t that just be proof that SOME dinosaurs had feathers, and not necessarily all of them? ---
**Author:** ![merrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@merrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrick)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/14 "2011-09-15T23:24:06Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Hm. \:dubious::eek: \ > > 😃 [Non-mental image of fluffy T-Rex](http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/T-Rex-Goes-Poof-28884237) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/15 "2011-09-16T00:37:50Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I don’t understand how they know the feathers came from dinosaurs, and not birds. The argument is: 1 - “fossils from dinosaurs do sometimes preserve filament structure, which appears similar to those seen in some of the amber specimins.” \* 2 - the amber comes from an area that has produced more feathered dinosaur fossils than true bird fossils.\*\* 3 - it is therefore “reasonable to suggest that the protofeather-like specimens are attributable to dinosaurs.” Proof? No. Suggest? Reasonable. Also Tempting. - Blogger Ed Young says “We now have enough fossils of feathered dinosaurs to fill entire museums.” His take on the amber is [here](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/09/15/amber-trapped-dinosaur-feathers-at-different-stages-in-their-evolution/). \*\* OK, that comment also came from Ed Young. The Atlantic link in the OP says "Given what we know about the animals that were alive in the area at the time . . . " ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/16 "2011-09-16T09:45:53Z")
The idea that dinosaurs had feathers has been [around for some time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velociraptor#Feathers) – and it’s one of those things I really would like to be able to tell my eight year old self, who was pretty intrigued by the idea (still controversial then, I think) that birds are really OMG dinosaurs! --, but I hadn’t known there was so much tangible evidence for this! Thanks for the blog link, **Yllaria**. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/17 "2011-09-16T10:00:46Z")
> [@merrick](#): > > [Non-mental image of fluffy T-Rex](http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/T-Rex-Goes-Poof-28884237) 🙂 :eek: That has to be about the funniest random observation + cartoon I have seen in a long time … thanks for the link. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/18 "2011-09-16T10:03:47Z")
Horsefeathers! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/19 "2011-09-16T15:45:07Z")
> [@merrick](#): > > [Non-mental image of fluffy T-Rex](http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/T-Rex-Goes-Poof-28884237) 🙂 > [@aruvqan](#): > > :eek: That has to be about the funniest random observation + cartoon I have seen in a long time … thanks for the link. 😃 [hijack] Ursula is great. If you haven’t seen her other stuff, it’s well worth the look. She’s also the author of the [Digger](http://www.diggercomic.com/)comic, which I know some others on the Dope have read and liked. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Pazu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pazu/32/15522_2.png) [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432/20 "2011-09-16T15:45:28Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I don’t understand how they know the feathers came from dinosaurs, and not birds. The boundary between birds and (non-avian) dinosaurs has been getting increasingly…er, fuzzy over the past decade. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dinosaur-feathers-preserved-in-amber/596432.md?page=2)