A re-analysis of an old fossil has revealed features never seen before in a dinosaur, including a long, fur-like mane and a pair of rough structures on its back. Scientists say these elaborate decorations may have been used on display in the early version of the Peacock.
Introducing Uprajara Jupatas, A theropod dinosaur that lived in the supercontinent’s Kondwana 110 million years ago. In addition to an interesting May stamp on its back, Uprajara It had two pairs of straw-like structures that stretched from its shoulders. This feature has not been seen on non-avian dinosaurs before, and is reminiscent of long-sighted feathers found on existing males Standardwing bird-paradise.
That Uprajara According to the authors of a new study published today in the journal Cretaceous Research, the use of these comprehensive structures for display is a unique possibility. Chicken size Uprajara The outfit may have been flown to impress a mate, to intimidate male competitors or to intimidate potential predators.
The sex of the specimen could not be determined, but this active display represents the differences found in a male, modern male and female birds. Modern birds and ancient theropods share a common ancestor, and this discovery refers to the whole peacock and two groups derived from earlier dinosaur relatives. Or they got the same strategy independently — hard to know.
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The partial skeleton was found in the formation of the Krato in northeastern Brazil decades ago, and when it was preserved and joined together in two layers of limestone, the authors wrote, “to blend perfectly with each other.” The model eventually moved to Germany, where it is stored in the Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe. Recently, a team of biologists decided to revisit the fossil with a high-resolution digital X-ray machine, revealing previously unseen features.
Despite the imperfections of the fossil, researchers were able to find well-preserved fiber structures in the limestone. Long, flat and hard fibers have been found to contain keratin, the same substance that makes up hair, feathers and fingernails. These four fiber structures are usually embedded UprajaraAccording to the study they can be used only when needed and so as not to interfere with the agility of the body.
“Structures like ribbon are not like anything we’ve seen before. They are long and flat, a rock that runs along their length, and they can strengthen structures, ”he said. Robert Smith, an archaeologist at the University of Portsmouth, was the first author of the paper, in an email. “Similar-The shaped fiber is known in other dinosaurs, but is nothing larger than the size of an animal. ”
Smith said Uprajara Theropath is the earliest branch of the evolutionary tree known to have such features.
“Until now, Detailed view It was thought that feathers would be restricted to dinosaurs that had already become complex, Bird-Like feathers, ”he said.
Paleontologists also documented long, dense mane of Fur-like fibers. As the teachers guessed, Uprajara Like a dog’s raised hooves, it controlled its mane with the muscles running on its back.
“The ‘man’ is made up of densely packed long monofilaments that are thick with coarse hair, which increases in length from the back of the neck to the back,” Smith wrote in his email. “We believe these monofilaments originated from follicles, which would have given the dinosaur some ability to raise and lower them.”
Smith said Uprajara Lived in a semi-arid environment bordering an ancient sea, and It feeds on small reptiles and waterfalls.
Uprajara It is also important to note that this was the first non-avian dinosaur discovered in the creation of the Krato in Brazil. As the name implies, “Uprajara” means “lord of the spear” in the native Tupi language, and “Jupatas” means “man” or “crest” in Latin.
Findings like these, which allow archaeologists to study the external structures of an animal, radically change our perception of dinosaurs and how they came to be. At the same time, this type of research will provide new insights into their potential behaviors. Such as உபிராஜரா, While the dinosaur is performing an attractive dance for women, these four fellow human beings stand tall with her four-stranded structures.