The discovery of simple, shaftless feathers on Dilong paradoxus, a 2-metre-long basal tyrannosauroid from the early Cretaceous of China, led to the suggestion that the tyrannosauroids as a group were feathered. Since the tyrannosauroids also includes the late Cretaceous heavyweight superstars that people have heard of, such as Tyrannosaurus, Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus, this idea gained much interest.
This evidence led to people speculating that Tyrannosaurus may have had feathers. But I don't recall anyone ever saying anything beyond, "Tyrannosaurus might have had feathers."
Well this guy at least heavily suggests it. I mean, Lucy is always depicted as having hair isn't she?
As for the possibility of a plumed T. rex, “We have as much evidence that T. rex was feathered, at least during some stage of its life, as we do that australopithecines like Lucy had hair,” said Mark Norell of the American Museum of Natural History.
“It’s an exciting time to be a dinosaur paleontologist,” said Norell. The feather findings “have rocked the world in terms of how we think of” dinosaurs, he said. “Instead of giant lizards, they were basically weird birds.”
Thing is even before feather imprints were found Dinosaurs similarities to birds was known by scientists. The shape of their skeletons was a large indicator.
I have never understood the problem people have with dinosaurs be By related to birds or feathered dinosaurs. Birds can look intimidating.
(Not really intimidating, but I found this picture and wanted to post it.) ---
(Not really intimidating, but I found this picture and wanted to post it.)
