And Science Shits All Over Our Dreams Again

Tuckerfan · Jun 6, 2017

It turns out that T. Rexes didn't have feathers, so they didn't look like a chicken that had been exposed to gamma ray radiation.

Tyrannosaurus rex had scaly skin and wasn’t covered in feathers, a new study says

Tyrannosaurus rex was an odd animal, a predator with teeth the size of bananas, a massive head and tiny arms. Given that many dinosaurs had feathers, could T. rex have been even weirder — a giant carnivore with a downy coat?

A new study in the journal Biology Letters crushes any tyrant chicken dreams: T. rex was covered in scales. The new research “shows without question that T. rex had scaly skin,” study author Phil R. Bell, a paleontologist at Australia's University of New England, said in an email to The Washington Post.

When T. rex first appeared in pop culture, as in 1918 film “The Ghost of Slumber Mountain,” the dinosaur had wrinkled skin and stood upright, dragging its tail. Scientists began dismantling this reptilian misconception in the late 1960s, and in 1993's “Jurassic Park,” a fairly accurate, horizontal T. rex menaced the silver screen.

The dino image changed again in the past few decades, as evidence for feathered species accumulated. Two tyrannosauroids, Dilong and Yutyrannus — relatives that predated T. rex by some 50 million years — were covered in feathers. As for T. rex, artists drew ferocious and fluffy concept art. One museum gave its animatronic T. rex plumage.

But this was putting the quill before the fossil. “With all the hype about feathered theropods, it's easy to forget that actually most dinosaurs had scaly, reptilian-like skin,” Bell said. (Theropod dinosaurs included tyrannosaurs and many other two-legged dinosaurs as well as bird ancestors.)

Bell and his colleagues examined skin from T. rex and four relatives from fairly late in tyrannosaur history: Albertosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Gorgosaurus and Tarbosaurus. Tyrannosaur skin is rare, Bell said, in part because paleontologists historically favored smashing through skin to get to bones.

From these skin patches, representing the tyrannosaur abdomen, chest, pelvis, neck and tail, the researchers found nothing but scales. If feathers existed, they did so only along the animals' back or spines.

“This doesn't rule out feathers on even the biggest tyrannosaurs,” said University of London paleontologist David Hone, who was not involved in the research, “but does suggest they lacked a full coat of feathers.”

The scientists propose several hypotheses for why T. rex was not covered in feathers, unlike its earlier relatives. “Probably the sexiest option is gigantism,” Bell said. Feathered Dilong was the size of a large dog. T. rex was about the length of a city bus. “Big animals have trouble shedding excess heat, so being covered in feathers is not a good idea unless you live somewhere cold.” Elephants, for instance, are not as furry as mice.

But Yutyrannus, though not quite as big as T. rex, was no pooch. “The problem here is that we have big tyrannosaurs, some with feathers, some without that live in pretty similar climates,” Bell said. “So what's the reason for this difference? We really don't know.”
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Lanzman · Jun 6, 2017

I am disappoint.

Diacanu · Jun 6, 2017

Well...at least they don't have to change Jurassic Park, and all those museum statues.

Tuckerfan · Jun 6, 2017

Diacanu said: ↑

Well...at least they don't have to change Jurassic Park, and all those museum statues.
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I don't know,I think fuzzy T.Rexes would improve Jurassic Park.

Minsc&Boo · Jun 10, 2017

We need a actual chult.

oldfella1962 · Jun 10, 2017

and here I was all ready to welcome our giant predatory feathery overlords.

Amaris · Jun 11, 2017

Dammit, Science, you had ONE JOB!

Bickendan · Jun 12, 2017

Feathery T. Rex was interesting, for sure, but I am just as happy with Jurassic Park/World T. Rex.
Because motherfuckingeating T. Rex.

Now them Utahraptors.

oldfella1962 · Jun 12, 2017

Christopher said: ↑

Feathery T. Rex was interesting, for sure, but I am just as happy with Jurassic Park/World T. Rex.
Because motherfuckingeating T. Rex.

Now them Utahraptors.
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good point - feathers aren't the be all, end all. If chickadees had t-rex skin I still wouldn't piss myself from fear when they ate out of my hand - okay maybe a trickle or two.

Will Power · Jun 17, 2017

While adult T-rexes in most places they lived in the world in the mid to late Cretaceous were warm areas, as Cretaceous Earth was a hothouse world. Being bid animals it makes sense that they'd be featherless given the climate. Like modern extant elephants. Elephants are hairless due to the tropical climates they live in.

But what about T-rexes that lived at higher elevations where you'd get snow & have more seasonal variability than at sea level? Those T-rexes were probably feathered.

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And Science Shits All Over Our Dreams Again

Tuckerfan BMF

Lanzman Vast, Cool and Unsympathetic Formerly Important

Diacanu Comicmike. Writer

Tuckerfan BMF

Minsc&Boo Fresh Meat

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Amaris Guest

Bickendan Custom Title Administrator Faceless Mook Writer

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Will Power If you only knew the irony of my name.

Log in or Sign up

And Science Shits All Over Our Dreams Again

Tuckerfan BMF

Lanzman Vast, Cool and Unsympathetic Formerly Important

Diacanu Comicmike. Writer

Tuckerfan BMF

Minsc&Boo Fresh Meat

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Amaris Guest

Bickendan Custom Title Administrator Faceless Mook Writer

oldfella1962 the only real finish line

Will Power If you only knew the irony of my name.

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