Something Like Feathers Grew on a 247-Million-Year-Old Reptile

Researchers have discovered the presence of something akin to feathers on a 247-million-year-old reptile, a finding that could significantly impact our understanding of the origin of feathers. The reptile, known as Tribolonocerus, was not closely related to birds, suggesting that the evolutionary development of feather-like structures may have occurred much earlier than previously thought. The structures found on Tribolonocerus are not true feathers, but they share similarities in their branching and barb-like features. This discovery challenges the prevailing notion that feathers evolved solely in the lineage leading to birds and their closest dinosaur relatives. The implications of this finding are far-reaching, as it could prompt scientists to reevaluate the evolution of feather-like structures across a broader range of reptilian species. This discovery opens up new avenues of research and may contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted origins of these remarkable structures.