First feathered dinosaur fossils found in North America
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This handout Artistic reconstruction provided on Oct 25, 2012 shows a feathered ornithomimid dinosaur found in Alberta, Canada. Scientists in Canada have unearthed the first fossils of a feathered dinosaur ever found in the Americas, the journal Science reported on Thursday. -- PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Scientists in Canada have unearthed the first fossils of a feathered dinosaur ever found in the Americas, the journal Science reported on Thursday.
The 75 million year old fossil specimens, uncovered in the badlands of Alberta, Canada, include remains of a juvenile and two adult ostrich-like creatures known as ornithomimids.
Until now feathered dinosaurs have been found mostly in China and in Germany.
"This is a really exciting discovery, as it represents the first feathered dinosaur specimens found in the Western Hemisphere," said Ms Darla Zelenitsky, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary and lead author of the study.
