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Feathered Dinosaurs Facts & Worksheets

Any dinosaur species with feathers is considered a feathered dinosaur. This encompasses all bird species, but it's also possible that many, if not all, non-avian dinosaur species had feathers of some kind.

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Any dinosaur species with feathers is considered a feathered dinosaur. This encompasses all bird species, but it’s also possible that many, if not all, non-avian dinosaur species had feathers of some kind. Some studies have cast doubt on the theory.

See the fact file below for more information about the Feathered Dinosaurs, or you can download our 26-page Feathered Dinosaurs worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

  • It has been hypothesized that feathers served as thermal insulation in the beginning, since this is still the case in the down feathers of young birds before the feathers are eventually modified to serve as structures for flight.
  • Comparable anatomical features have been documented on the skeletons of certain ornithischian (“bird-hipped”) dinosaurs and are also recognized in pterosaurs, which are avian reptiles. Therefore, it’s plausible that all of these creatures’ common ancestor had a body covering made of filamentous or hair-like hair.
  • Since the early 1800s, when scientific study on dinosaurs started, it has been widely accepted that dinosaurs and contemporary reptiles, including lizards, are closely linked. The word dinosaur itself is Greek for “terrible lizard,” having been invented by geologist Richard Owen in 1842.

EARLY DISCOVERIES

  • Other scientists, most notably English paleontologist Harry Govier Seeley, suggested that the similarities may have been the result of convergent evolution. English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley first proposed in the 1870s that birds and carnivorous dinosaurs might have been related. However, his theories were not widely accepted.
  • Many people believe that the Late Jurassic fossils are typical of the earliest bird species. But the origin of birds remained a mystery because no other Mesozoic Era reptile had maintained body coverings like feathers.
  • American paleontologist John H. Ostrom proved in the 1970s that birds did, in fact, devolve from small carnivorous dinosaurs. Detailed phylogenetic research confirmed this finding in the 1980s. Natural selection may have favored featherlike scales that first assisted in bringing down flying insect prey before acquiring an aerodynamic purpose, according to Ostrom’s then widely accepted theory that feathers may have originated as basic fringed reptilian scales. But there was no indication of any form of epidermal coating in Archaeopteryx’s dinosaurian ancestors.
  • The most significant finds at Liaoning have been a variety of feathered dinosaur fossils, and new discoveries are continuing to add to the body of knowledge regarding the relationship between dinosaurs and birds, as well as the evolutionary development of feathers and flight.
  • 2011 saw the discovery in amber samples of preserved feathers from the Cretaceous period, some 75–80 million years ago, showing evidence of feathers from both birds and dinosaurs. According to preliminary examination, some of the feathers were not used for flight but rather for insulation.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Theropod dinosaurs make up the majority of the dinosaurs that we know to have had feathers. Carnivorous dinosaurs, known as theropods, had three toes on each foot and stood erect on two legs.
  • Proto-feathers, or thin fibers that resembled feathers and covered a dinosaur’s body in a pattern like that of feathers, are what scientists have found among the dinosaur feathers found in Alberta, Canada.
  • Dinosaurs would have benefited from having feathers for mating displays, insulation, temperature control, and to provide them with “lift,” or an upward thrust while pursuing prey or fleeing predators.
  • The color of dinosaur feathers varied. Much like today’s birds! Not only have scientists identified brighter colors resembling rust, but they have also found several feathers that were probably various hues of grey. Additionally, paleontologists have been able to interpret various color patterns, such as striped tails.
  • According to proteins discovered in fossilized feathers, hawk-like black, red, and grey feathers were common to both T. Rex and Velociraptor. They might have also had feathers that were blue, green, or purple, but as the evidence from those colors disintegrates more quickly than that of red, it’s possible that there are no longer any traces of those colors to be found.

FEATHERED DINOSAUR EXAMPLES

AVIMIMUS

  • Recently, a maniraptoran known as Avimimus (meaning “bird mimic”) was found. About 70 million years ago, in the late Cretaceous period in what is now Mongolia, there existed a theropod dinosaur that resembled a bird and moved extremely quickly. It may have even had feathers.
  • A dinosaur that resembled a tiny bird, Avimimus measured 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length. The eyes and brain were enormous, but the skull was small in relation to the body. 
  • Given its short teeth—or perhaps none at all—Avimimus may have been an omnivore or herbivore. Nonetheless, Kurzanov thought Avimimus was an insectivore.

SINOSAUROPTERYX

  • A genus of non-avialan dinosaurs, Sinosauropteryx (not a bird), existed.
  • It is the first one discovered to have fossilized fuzzy down or filamentous feather impressions. All in all, the filaments resemble some contemporary flightless birds’ down-like feathers.
  • Because Sinosauropteryx is phylogenetically distant from the group Aves, which is typically described as Archaeopteryx plus modern birds, most paleontologists do not believe Sinosauropteryx to be a bird.

PROTARCHAEOPTERYX

  • An ancient Chinese theropod dinosaur genus known as Protarchaeopteryx (literally, “before Archaeopteryx”) was turkey-sized and feathered.
  • It is known from the Jianshangou bed of the Yixian Formation and lived around 124.6 million years ago, in the early Aptian epoch of the Early Cretaceous.
  • It is either synonymous with Incisivosaurus or closely linked to one of the most basic members of the Oviraptorosauria.
  • Because of its long legs, Protarchaeopteryx may have been a swift runner. Its comparatively small tail was supported by well-developed, vaned feathers; its hands were long and slender, with three fingers that had sharp, bent claws.

CAUDIPTERYX

  • Caudipteryx was a little dinosaur with feathers. Although it resembled an Archaeopteryx more, it was connected to an Oviraptor.
  • Found in China, it was a tiny insectivore that weighed less than a meter and had long, narrow legs. 
  • It has feather fringes around the trailing edges of each arm and a fan of feathers on the tail. With a center stalk and vanes on either side, they resemble bird feathers in many ways. It couldn’t fly because of its small arms.

Feathered Dinosaurs Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Feathered Dinosaurs across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Feathered Dinosaurs. Feathered Dinosaurs encompasses all bird species, but it’s also possible that many, if not all, non-avian dinosaur species had feathers of some kind. Some studies have cast doubt on the theory.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Feathered Dinosaurs Facts
  2. Truth or Feathered?
  3. Theropod
  4. Question and Feather
  5. Dino What?
  6. Velociraptor
  7. Feathered
  8. Feather and Answer
  9. Dino Twist
  10. T-Rex Reimagined
  11. Feathered Five

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a feathered dinosaur?

A feathered dinosaur is a type of dinosaur that possessed feathers or feather-like structures. These dinosaurs are believed to be the ancestors of modern birds and provide important insights into the evolution of flight and the transition from reptiles to birds.

Why did some dinosaurs have feathers?

Feathers likely evolved in dinosaurs for various reasons, including insulation, display, and potentially even flight. Initially, feathers might have served as insulation to help regulate body temperature. Over time, they could have been co-opted for display purposes, such as attracting mates or intimidating rivals. Eventually, in certain lineages, feathers may have been adapted for powered flight.

Which dinosaur species are known to have had feathers?

Several dinosaur species have been discovered with evidence of feathers or feather-like structures, including but not limited to:

  • Archaeopteryx: Often considered one of the earliest birds, Archaeopteryx had feathers similar to those of modern birds but retained many dinosaur-like features.
  • Velociraptor: This predatory dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous had quill knobs on its forearm bones, indicating the presence of feathers.
  • Dilong: A small theropod dinosaur from China, Dilong had primitive feathers covering its body.
  • Microraptor: A small, bird-like dinosaur with feathers on both its forelimbs and hind limbs, suggesting it may have been capable of gliding or even powered flight.

How do scientists know dinosaurs had feathers?

Scientists have found direct evidence of feathers in fossilized dinosaur specimens. These feathers are often preserved in fine detail, allowing researchers to study their structure and characteristics using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, some dinosaurs have been found with impressions of feathers in the sediment surrounding their bones, providing further evidence of their presence.

What implications do feathered dinosaurs have for our understanding of evolution?

Feathered dinosaurs provide critical evidence for the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds. By studying these fossils, scientists can better understand the transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds and the development of flight. Additionally, feathered dinosaurs challenge traditional views of dinosaurs as large, scaly reptiles and highlight the diversity and complexity of these ancient creatures.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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