Another feathered dinosaur discovered...

[Mallon]

Yet another small theropod dinosaur with feathers has been discovered in China...

A New Giant Compsognathid Dinosaur with Long Filamentous Integuments from
Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern China JI Shu’an*, JI Qiang, LÜ Junchang
and YUAN Chongxi Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological
Sciences, Beijing 100037 Key Laboratory of Stratigraphy and Paleontology,
Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037 ACTA GEOLOGICA
SINICA Vol. 81 No. 1 pp. 8–15 2007-03-01 15:27:36

Abstract: A new compsognathid dinosaur, Sinocalliopteryx gigas gen. et
sp. nov., is erected based on a complete skeleton from the Early
Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, northeastern China. It
shares the features with Huaxiagnathus orientalis in having a manus as
long as the humerus plus radius, very large and subequally long manual
claws I and II, and reduced olecranon process on the ulna. But it differs
from Huaxiagnathus orientalis in having the much large size, a very long
maxillary process of premaxilla not extending the vertical level of the
maxillary antorbital fossa, and the proportionally longer ulna and so on.
Sinocalliopteryx gigas gen. et sp. nov. represents the largest species
among the known compsognathid dinosaurs, suggesting the tendency of the
body enlargement in compsognathids to some extent. The long filamentous
integuments are attached to the whole body of this compsognathid,
confirming that such integuments evolved firstly in the basal
coelurosaurs. This new giant compsognathid was a fierce carnivorous
theropod, as shown further by an incomplete dromaeosaurid leg inside its
abdominal cavity.

No pictures available online yet, but I've got the paper, and there's some very nicely preserved feather traces along the length of the body.

Feathered dinosaurs are one of my favourite examples of the science of palaeontology in action. Back in the 70's and 80's, before we even knew of any feathered non-avian dinosaur specimens, palaeontologists predicted that some small theropod dinosaurs had feathers, based on their shared skeletal similarities with birds (enlarged sterna, uncinate processes, hollow bones, etc.). And lo and behold, a fine-grained fossiliferous rock formation in China begins to yeild a whole new fauna of Cretaceous dinosaurs in the mid-90's, many specimens of which preserve feathers.

For those who would argue that evolutionary theory does not make predictions, I would point them to this unraveling of events.

And for those who argue that evolution is unfalsifiable, I think this fossil of Sinocalliopteryx has something to say about that, too. Perhaps even more interesting than the preserved feathers are the preserved gut contents found with this specimen. The belly of this dinosaur contains what has positively been identified as another dinosaur. In fact, that's all we ever find in the fossil gut contents of any dinosaur -- more dinosaurs (and occasionally, primitive mammals and reptiles). If the YEC paradigm is correct, why do we never find modern species like penguins or horses in the gut contents of dinosaurs??? Such a find would certainly falsify evolution and turn the theory on its head.

 

[Assyrian]

Back in the 70's and 80's, before we even knew of any feathered non-avian dinosaur specimens, palaeontologists predicted that some small theropod dinosaurs had feathers

That's nothing:

Sinocalliopteryx gigas ...

Was predicted by Mary Poppins back in 1964.

 

[Jadis40]

This is probably what you're referring to...it was in my daily e-mail from Livescience.com:

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/070319_gliding_lizard.html

Has pictures too

Speaking of finds, they've found yet another Jurassic reptile:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070319112538.htm

 

[laptoppop]

I find it fascinating that there are so few candidates for transitional fossils that finding one is news. This is certainly not what I would expect to be predicted by the TOE.

 

[Mallon]

I find it fascinating that there are so few candidates for transitional fossils that finding one is news. This is certainly not what I would expect to be predicted by the TOE.

Doesn't the existence of any transitional fossils essentially negate YECism and the concept of fixed "kinds"? Evolution predicts finds like these; YECism does not.
Regardless, transitional fossils are by no means as rare as you make them out to be. The list given at talkorigins is only a glimpse at transitions between major clades. I could show you additional series of beautiful transitional fossils within clades, such as pachypleurosaurs, ceratopsids, or mosasaurs.

 

[laptoppop]

No, "transitional" fossils do not negate YEC -- there is no limit on God's ability to design different critters that are close to each other.

Transitional fossils are rare enough that it is a real issue for evolution -- so much so that many hold to a "punctuated evolution" model.

 

[Mallon]

No, "transitional" fossils do not negate YEC -- there is no limit on God's ability to design different critters that are close to each other.

That's ad hoc, pop. Let's be honest.

Transitional fossils are rare enough that it is a real issue for evolution -- so much so that many hold to a "punctuated evolution" model.

"Punk eek" was developed to explain stasis in the fossil record, not the lack of transitional fossils. As the man who developed the theory of punk eek, Gould said, "Transitional forms are generally lacking at the species level [given the incomplete nature of the fossil record], but they are abundant between larger groups."

 

[laptoppop]

I'll admit that YEC does not make any predictions about God's creative power or creativity. But it doesn't limit it either.

 

[Mallon]

I'll admit that YEC does not make any predictions about God's creative power or creativity. But it doesn't limit it either.

That's what I see as one of creation "science's" biggest flaws. It is strictly reactive, refuses to make any predictions, and rejects conflicting evidence on the assumption that nothing can contradict a literal interpretation of the Bible.
That's why creation "science" will never get its foot in the science classroom door, unfortunately.

 

[Mallon]

Another cool dino find newsflash:

Some dinosaurs lived in burrows!

 

[Assyrian]

I'll admit that YEC does not make any predictions about God's creative power or creativity. But it doesn't limit it either.

When I was a YEC, creation science was quite confidently predicting that no transitionals would be found.

What is Creation Science, 1982 revised 1987, p.221

The Creation model, on the other hand, postulates that all the basic types of plants and animals were directly created and did not evolve from other type at all. Consequently the Creationist predicts that no transitional sequences (except within each created type) will ever be found, either in the present array of organisms or in the fossil record.

 

[Mallon]

Someone finally uploaded a picture of the fossil. It's hard to make out the feather traces from this far away, but you can probably see them best around the base and tip of the tail.