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https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/20/tongue-tied-t-rex-couldnt-stick-out-its-tongue https://www.cnet.com/news/t-rex-most-dinosaurs-couldnt-stick-out-their-tongues/

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/caos-sft053018.php

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/05/24/ancestor-living-birds-survived-asteroid-strike-couldnt-fly/ https://cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/asteroid-wiped-out-all-but-six-types-of-bird

Fossils returned to China Xinhua Net | 2018-01-13 19:01:35|Editor: Zhou Xin http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/13/c_136893270.htm Yours, PAul H.

Some of my feathered neighbors.

Genuine fossils with exquisitely preserved plumage from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of north-eastern China have recently revealed that bird-like theropod dinosaurs had long pennaceous feathers along their hindlimbs and may have used their four wings to glide or fly. Thus, it has been postulated that early bird flight might initially have involved four wings. Link : https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00114-017-1496-y?author_access_token=qK5jILmlXqTUfzaXSeOT4fe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY5XtMiIuzLHT0w7pfMEQCqN57cyEs2GIzoqs5Z9sbEt05ydpRV-wedb1KJ5MwJh8Kg2RuubzDV9r0AJl8jBoI_iqK1-9ikzq8p8bOLVXyh_UA%3D%3D

Tiny fossil reveals what happened to birds after dinosaurs went extinct By Carolyn Gramling, Science Magazine AAAS, July. 10, 2017 http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/07/tiny-fossil-reveals-what-happened-birds-after-dinosaurs-went-extinct The OLDEST tree-dwelling bird species revealed: 62 million-year-old 'Tsidiiyazhi abini' fossil suggests avians rapidly evolved after the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs by Shivali Best, Mail Online, July 11, 2017 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4684926/62-million-year-old-Tsidiiyazhi-abini-fossil-discovered.html Fossil sheds light on bird evolution after asteroid strike By Helen Brigg, BBC News http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40535631 Ksepka, D.T., T.A. Stidham, and T.E. Williamson, 2017. Early Paleocene landbird supports rapid phylogenetic and morphological diversification of crown birds after the K–Pg mass extinction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/07/05/1700188114 Yours, Paul H

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/02/anchiornis-bird-like-dinosaur-feathers-lasers-soft-tissue-science.html

The amazingly preserved fossil. Peteya et al./Palaeontology Many birds today are famous for their beautiful plumage, whose iridescence is often used to attract a mate. A new study in the journal Palaeontology has revealed that the very same seductive sparkle existed in at least one type of bird living hundreds of millions of years ago. Excavated in northeastern China, a juvenile critter – no more than 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) in length – was found with its feathers immaculately preserved. They were long and streamlined, and spread out from its back and tail, leading researchers to think that it may have displayed them in the way a peacock does. In addition, intricate structures, those used by modern birds to warp the passage of light to produce reflective and colorful patterns, were also spotted within the feathers. This combination of evidence suggests that this bird used these feathers not only to aid flight, but – like plenty of birds today – they were also used to show off to an eligible singleton. This particular 120-million-year-old airborne dinosaur was part of the extinct enantiornithines group. Almost all of them had clawed fingers on their wings and many still had teeth within their “beaks”, but externally they resembled modern birds. “Many enantiornithine birds possessed ornate feathers,” lead author Dr Jennifer Peteya, a palaeontologist at the University of Akron, told BBC News. “This new specimen shows that some enantiornithines also had iridescent feathers and, unlike most modern birds, these flashy ornaments developed before the animal was fully grown.” As this study underscores, birds were, and are, one of the most diverse and rapidly evolving groups of organisms on the planet. Among other things, feathers provide perfect examples of this quick pace of diversification. Not originally designed for flight, many experts assign their appearance to that of sexual selection, something that this new study appears to agree with. It’s also thought that feathers were a way for dinosaurs (flying or grounded) to regulate their internal body temperatures. Plenty of birds use colorful feathers to attract mates, including Scarlet macaws, whose typical plumage is pictured here. Super Prin/Shutterstock The first bird-like dinosaurs appeared during the Late Jurassic, around 150 million years ago. Feathers, hollow bone structures, killing claws, and perhaps even the ability to fly – charactertistics of many modern birds – appeared in Cretaceous dinosaurs shortly afterwards. These groups include Deinonychus, quick-footed predators, and the ostrich-like oviraptorosaurs like the recently-discovered Tongtianlong. Along with the enantiornitheans, these groups died out during the mass extinction event at the end-Cretaceous around 66 million years ago – along with the likes of the terrestrial dinosaurs and the pterosaurs. Of course, other groups leading to modern birds made it through, as did their iridescent plumage. So whether the genes influencing sparkly feathers were passed down directly, or whether they evolved independently many times, it seems that certain fashion trends are essentially timeless.

These are a bunch of bones from the pleistocene period found in Florida, USA. I haven't got a clue as to what these come from so I am guessing raccoon, giant armadillo, duck, deer and maybe birds. Not sure what species but I am psyched. It would be very much be appreciated if anyone can take a look and with your pleistocene expertise maybe help me decent what bones belong to what animal.

Hi I'm thinking of becoming a Paleornithologist when I'm older, I've just got a few questions for any people in this profession on here: I know the term 'paleornithologist' isn't actually a real title for a job, but something along the lines is what I mean. (Paleontologist that studies relationship between birds and dinosaurs.etc) Because I really love birds and dinosaurs and the evolutionary science behind the relationship. 1. With your work, how often do you go out an do field work/study? Eg. Capture birds and examine them? 2. How does a student studying ornithology/paleontology find themselves in a position like this? 3. How often do you get to work with theropod dinosaur fossils and paleontologists? 4. I know this is kind of a private question, and it doesn't have to be answered ; is your salary comfortable to live with? For example if you were to travel or raise a family? 5. How does an ornithologist get themselves 'higher in the ranks' when starting off? Any answers are appreciated, Thanks!

Hi, I'm new here, and I am so fascinated by fossils since moving to Arizona that I decided to get some real information. I live on the edge of Arizona and Nevada. I found this under a tree in my backyard, and originally thought it was birds. But every time I move it or turn it or get closer or further away, it changes. It's driving me crazy. Please can someone tell me what this is? It is approx. 7" high and 5" wide, coral like, hard but would break easily, I hope that helps. Thanks

Found this rock on Lake Michigan along the Frankfort shoreline. I thought it would be fun to experiment with some acid, so I put it in 10% or so bath for a day. I washed it off this morning and viola... little bird feet! Or, foot prints. Or maybe not. This area was a tropical, shallow sea for a long time, so maybe bird prints don't make sense. Also, other than the ID of this... I wonder how common this is? Any help would be appreciated.

Last month I was working of in Mitchell SD, so on my way home I stopped at the Ashfall Fossil beds in NE Nebraska. (It seemed like it was a long ways from anywhere, until I went to Fossil Butte this month) Anyways I thought I'd show a few pictures of the museum and site. I guess this place was discovered rather recently, now they have a small museum, and the "rhino Barn" built over an unbelievable assortment of rhinos in life-like positions, like they were found. They are in better condition than most cow skeletons I've come across! Photo 1 Prep lab Photo 2 Wading bird with lizard in stomach Photo 3 action photo