By Stacy Hinojosa
Was Tyrannosaurus Rex once covered with chicken-like feathers?
That''s what paleontologist Philip Currie proposed at a university geology seminar Wednesday afternoon in the Eyring Science Center.
In a lecture entitled 'Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds,' Currie presented a history of paleontological research including evidence affirming that primitive ancestors of the Tyrannosaur may have had feathers for insulation purposes.
'Tyrannosaurs are not what you''d call animals that you would think of as being very good as bird ancestors,' Currie said, who specializes in theropods, a group of saurischian dinosaurs which includes Tyrannosaurus Rex. 'Very often, when you get into the rhetoric of where did birds come from, the thing that''s often thrown out is how can you think that a robin could come from a Tyrannosaurs Rex, and of course no one has actually said that.'
What Currie did say was there were many small theropod dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous Period that are much better potential bird ancestors, but the fact remains that the Tyrannosaur had many bird-like structural characteristics and primitive smaller versions may have even had feathers.
'Predictably, one would think that the ancestors of birds should have feathers because feathers can''t just sprout for flight, feathers have to be there for some other reason and if some of these small warm meat-eating dinosaurs were warm blooded, they needed insulation,' Currie said. 'It makes perfect sense that the insulation that these birds would have would be feathers.'
Currie also spoke about several other related advancements that have been made in the past decades including the discovery of the clavicle, or wishbone, in the skeletal frame of some dinosaurs as well the theory that their bones may have had air ducts in them, which would make them lighter, just like birds.
'For a long time, we assumed that this kind of system was something that had evolved in birds specifically as a mechanism for giving them light skeletons so they were more efficient flyers,' Currie said. 'But it makes perfect sense for dinosaurs to develop this feature and have lightweight skeletons because when you think about it, bipedal dinosaurs are basically teeter-totters.'
Currie said the lighter bones would help solve the question of how Tyrannosaurus stayed balanced even though it had a disproportionate distribution of weight between the upper and lower halves of its body.
Confirming changes in bone structure and density would be significant because it would affect the projected weights and land speeds of various dinosaurs.
'I thought it was very interesting and informative,' said Daniel Burk, 21, a geology major from San Juan, Puerto Rico. 'The way he presented the information was comprehensive and it gave you a clear picture of how the field has progressed.'
Burk, who works as a student assistant at the BYU Earth Science Museum, said he believes Currie''s research is valid and credible.
Currie''s lecture is part of a presentation tour Currie is on as a distinguished lecturer for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Brooks Britt, an assistant professor of geology, who was once taught by Currie, arranged his visit.
'We''re very lucky we got him,' Britt said.
Currie will address the Wyoming Geological Association in Casper, Wyo., today before traveling to additional speaking engagements in the Dakotas and Texas later this month.