# Largest Feathered Dinosaur yet discovered **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 6, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015 "2012-04-06T17:24:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/1 "2012-04-06T17:24:14Z")
Found in China – 30 feet long and weighed 1.5 tines: > **[Giant, feathered dinosaur remains discovered in China](https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giant-feathered-dinosaur-remains-discovered-china-020815086.html)** > > The largest feathered dinosaur ever discovered has been unearthed in China, measuring more than 30 feet in length and weighing in at more than 3,000 pounds. Its length would make it the largest known feathered animal in history. The Christian Science... Apparently an ancestor of T. Rex, although the article screws up and calls it a “descdencant” of T. Rex. > **[Yutyrannus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yutyrannus)** > > Yutyrannus (meaning "feathered tyrant") is a genus of proceratosaurid tyrannosauroid dinosaur which contains a single known species, Yutyrannus huali. This species lived during the early Cretaceous period in what is now northeastern China. Three fossils of Yutyrannus huali —all found in the rock beds of Liaoning Province— are currently the largest-known carnivorous dinosaur specimens that preserve direct evidence of feathers. > Yutyrannus huali was named and scientifically described in 2012 by ... > **[Giant Feathered Tyrannosaur Found in China](https://www.wired.com/2012/04/yutyrannus-huali-feathers/)** > > It's not your dad's tyrannosaur: Yutyrannus huali, a newly discovered ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex, was covered from head to tail in downy feathers. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/2 "2012-04-06T17:35:01Z")
I read that in the New York Times, and my brother read it in the Wall Street Journal. What’s weird is that the Time article mentions in an aside that T. rex didn’t have feathers. The Journal mentioned in an aside that T. rex _did_ have feathers. Which just confirms my brother’s contention that the Time and the Journal are reporting from separate universes. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/3 "2012-04-06T17:41:15Z")
Soon to be seen the in the next Angry Birds game: _Angry Birds: Jurassic Pork_. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/4 "2012-04-06T18:40:22Z")
T. Rex was _fuzzy?!!_ > [@Punoqllads](#): > > Soon to be seen the in the next Angry Birds game: _Angry Birds: Jurassic Pork_. You know they’re going to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/5 "2012-04-06T18:46:22Z")
Aww … who’s da fuzzy wuzzy widdle T Rex? You’re da fuzzy wuzzy T Wex! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/6 "2012-04-06T18:48:50Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Found in China – 30 feet long and weighed 1.5 tines: > > [Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giant-feathered-dinosaur-remains-discovered-china-020815086.html) Must have been pretty skinny. I have a fork with 4 tines. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/7 "2012-04-06T20:09:19Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > T. Rex was \*fuzzy?!! \Well, no. A smaller, but still pretty damn big, critter related to T. Rex was fuzzy. Fossil hide impressions indicate that T. Rex was not feathered, or at least not fully feathered. It was a bigger animal and lived in a warmer climate, so the extra insulation from down feathers probably would not have been a beneficial trait.\ Still, yes, there was a huge, bloodthirsty, fast-running carnivore that was _fuzzy_, like a downy little baby duckling. A duckling that would _eat you_. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/8 "2012-04-06T20:33:16Z")
If I remember right, the controversy is whether birds descended from dinosaurs or if both birds and reptiles descended from a common ancestor. I’m not sure which side this discovery supports, especially since the news accounts mix up the details. ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/9 "2012-04-06T21:08:33Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Must have been pretty skinny. I have a fork with 4 tines. Depends on how big the fork was doesn’t it? > [@Balance](#): > > \Well, no. A smaller, but still pretty damn big, critter related to T. Rex was fuzzy. Fossil hide impressions indicate that T. Rex was not feathered, or at least not fully feathered. It was a bigger animal and lived in a warmer climate, so the extra insulation from down feathers probably would not have been a beneficial trait.\ T. Rex was _bald?!!_ 😃 > [@Balance](#): > > Still, yes, there was a huge, bloodthirsty, fast-running carnivore that was _fuzzy_, like a downy little baby duckling. A duckling that would _eat you_. I am going to have very odd dreams tonight. Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/10 "2012-04-06T21:33:21Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I am going to have very odd dreams tonight. Thanks. 🙂 Try this: imagine the giant duckling quacking “Ride of the Valkyries” as it pursues you. It makes things even better. I know. I’ve done experiments. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/11 "2012-04-07T03:20:36Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Fossil hide impressions indicate that T. Rex was not feathered, or at least not fully feathered. We have fossil hide impressions _of T. Rex?_ Are you certain of that? Do you have a cite? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/12 "2012-04-07T03:33:26Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > We have fossil hide impressions _of T. Rex?_ Are you certain of that? Do you have a cite? [Wikipedia does:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrannosaurus#cite_ref-GSP08_70-0) > [@](#): > > It has also been proposed that Tyrannosaurus and other closely related tyrannosaurids had such protofeathers. However, skin impressions from large tyrannosaurid specimens show mosaic scales. Source (ref. 71): > [@](#): > > Paul, Gregory S. (2008). “The extreme lifestyles and habits of the gigantic tyrannosaurid superpredators of the Late Cretaceous of North America and Asia”. In Carpenter, Kenneth; and Larson, Peter E. (editors). Tyrannosaurus rex, the Tyrant King (Life of the Past). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p.316. ISBN 0-253-35087-5." ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/13 "2012-04-07T04:13:29Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > We have fossil hide impressions _of T. Rex?_ Are you certain of that? Do you have a cite? In addition to **Musicat** ’s reference, I found a couple of quotes about an impression found in Edmonton back in 1995, but no copy of the article itself. Given how far back it is, it’s unlikely that it’s online, but the find is probably one of the ones referenced in the Wiki cite. This [list post](http://dml.cmnh.org/1995Mar/msg00410.html) quotes it as saying: > [@Edmonton Journal](#): > > Tess Owen looked in a rock formation near Edmonton where Royal Tyrrell Museum paleontologists had earlier examined the partial skeleton of a young adult tyrannosaur and found one of only three tyrannosaur skin impressions to date." > > “The 10 cm-square inpression is also by far the best of the three.” > > “It was one of those things that is a humbling experience for the rest of us,” said Dr. Phil Currie, head of dinosaur research for the museum in Drumheller. > \ > The impression shows symmetrical rows of raised bumps and is definitely from a tyrannosaur…" Currie said. > > Currie says the specimen is far vetter [sic] than the two other previously discovered tyrannosaur skin impressions. It’s small, but it confirms what the other two suggested: that tyrannosaurs had a lightly pebbled skin, like an elephant’s hide. ---
**Author:** ![Grendel\_s\_Father](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grendel\_s\_Father](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grendel_s_Father)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/14 "2012-04-09T20:52:23Z")
“Currie says the specimen is far vetter [sic] than the two other previously discovered tyrannosaur skin impressions. It’s small, but it confirms what the other two suggested: that tyrannosaurs had a lightly pebbled skin, like an elephant’s hide.” Note that this doesn’t preclude the presence of feathers. Given various conditions, it’s possible that a rotting carcass could fossilize after all of its plumage has fallen off (Montauk Monster style), thereby preserving only whatever was underneath the plumage (scales or feathers). Note also that the impression in question is the size of a playing card and was found near the underside of the tail or leg and could well have come from the foot. [http://web.me.com/dinoruss/jdp/trex/skin.htm](http://web.me.com/dinoruss/jdp/trex/skin.htm) [http://dml.cmnh.org/2003May/msg00166.html](http://dml.cmnh.org/2003May/msg00166.html) Note also that as Currie said, “pebbly skin” doesn’t necessarily mean scales (and there’s no reason to think early feathered dinosaurs didn’t have scales under the feathers on at least parts of their bodies). In another article on Yutyrannus, Paul Sereno said: “In my lab, I have a T. rex fossil that shows the beast did not have scales,” he says. “But it’s only in China that we have the opportunity to see evidence of what replaced scales – feathers!" [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/04/04/yutyrannus-a-giant-tyrannosaur-with-feathers/](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/04/04/yutyrannus-a-giant-tyrannosaur-with-feathers/) So here’s the evidence as it stands: Several very small patches of tyrannosaurid skin, some showing very small pebbly scales or skin, some showing smooth skin, and several more primitive tyrannosaurs with extensive feather coverings. It’s looking very likely that T. rex had feathers covering at least parts of their bodies. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/15 "2012-04-09T21:13:18Z")
I’ve been saying for over ten years that we’ll eventually discover that Tyrannosaurs were covered in yellow down like a baby duck, and this is just one more step in my never-ending quest to show those small-minded idiots back at the Academy. Fools! I’ll destroy them all! ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/16 "2012-04-10T00:01:29Z")
Great, now I need to put feathers on the tyranno-bots. Hmmm, perhaps some sort of laser feathers… ---
**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:** [April 10, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/17 "2012-04-10T03:45:32Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Great, now I need to put feathers on the tyranno-bots. Hmmm, perhaps some sort of laser feathers… T. Rex was a _bot?!!_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/18 "2012-04-10T04:56:39Z")
> [@Grendel\_s\_Father](#): > > So here’s the evidence as it stands: > Several very small patches of tyrannosaurid skin, some showing very small pebbly scales or skin, some showing smooth skin, and several more primitive tyrannosaurs with extensive feather coverings. It’s looking very likely that T. rex had feathers covering at least parts of their bodies. The point was that this new find doesn’t indicate that T. Rex was feathered. It was a different (though related), smaller dinosaur that lived in a different time and climate. It’s possible that T. Rex was partially, or even completely feathered, but the evidence we currently have does not demonstrate that, and the characteristics of its environment make it plausible that even if its ancestors were fully feathered, it might have only vestiges of that covering. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-feathered-dinosaur-yet-discovered/618015/19 "2012-04-10T14:26:57Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > the characteristics of its environment make it plausible that even if its ancestors were fully feathered, it might have only vestiges of that covering. I’m secretly hoping for bare hide everywhere but the head, which will turn out to have sported a full war bonnet of feathers. Tyrannosaurus Rex is an _original_ Native American, after all.