
The authors have therefore come to the conclusion that the tail belongs to a young coelurosaur. Coelurosauria were theropod dinosaurs – that is, carnivorous beasts that walked or ran on their hind legs. In fact, Dr. Currie believes that all coelurosaurs, including tyrannosaurs, may have been feathered.

Thus, the popular image of dinosaurs as scaly-skinned monsters might be a little off. Instead, they may have been covered with a soft, downy covering not unlike a baby bird’s. But rather than being used for flight, such feathers would have kept their wearers warm. And in the case of bright plumage, they may also have been used for signaling.
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