Taming the Taming the T-rexT-rex

…And other …And other dinosaursdinosaurs

CHALLENGING EARTH HISTORY: Part CHALLENGING EARTH HISTORY: Part VIIVII

The Feathered DinosaursThe Feathered DinosaursElaine Kennedy, Ph.D.Elaine Kennedy, Ph.D.

Geoscience Research InstituteGeoscience Research Institute

http://www.grisda.orghttp://www.grisda.org

Problematic Issues II:Problematic Issues II:dinosaur-bird linksdinosaur-bird links

• Are the “feathers” on Are the “feathers” on dinosaurs real?dinosaurs real?

• Is the existence of feathers Is the existence of feathers on any reptile problematic on any reptile problematic for Christians? for Christians?

• Are feathered dinosaurs Are feathered dinosaurs links?links?

Data:Data:Young Young Sinosauropteryx primaSinosauropteryx prima

Yixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, ChinaYixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, China

•Compsonathid –like skeleton•Ruffled dark ridge above the spine shows what may have been feathers

Data:Data:Confuciusornis sanctusConfuciusornis sanctus

Yixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, ChinaYixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, China

•This bird lacks teeth •Note forelimbs & feathers•Birds abundant in same formation & “time” as feathered dinosaurs •Can feathered dinosaurs be “the links” when birds were already present?

Feathers

DataData: : Caudipteryx zouiCaudipteryx zoui

Yixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, ChinaYixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, China

•Feather plume on tail & wings

•Feathers & down may have covered entire body

•Only a few hooked teeth in the front of its upper jaw

Data:Data:Protarchaeopteryx robustaProtarchaeopteryx robusta

Yixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, ChinaYixian Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, China

• Archaeopteryx lithographica had asymmetrical feathers

• P. robusta did not fly– Symmetrical feathers

Feathers

Data:Microraptor guiMicroraptor gui

Jiufotang Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, ChinaJiufotang Formation, lower Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, China

• Fracture pattern around skeletonFracture pattern around skeleton– Key features isolated

• Carbonized feathersCarbonized feathers– No carbonized flesh

• Slurry? between bones & Slurry? between bones & feathersfeathers– Patching?

• Best specimens purchasedBest specimens purchased

Part VII: SummaryPart VII: Summary

The validity of the feathers on The validity of the feathers on dinosaurs is still debated; dinosaurs is still debated; however, if the feathers are however, if the feathers are real, their presence on real, their presence on dinosaurs does not establish a dinosaurs does not establish a link between dinosaurs and link between dinosaurs and birds because true birds are birds because true birds are found in lower layers with no found in lower layers with no ancestral evidence in the ancestral evidence in the layers below.layers below.

ConclusionsConclusions

• Dinosaurs lived on earth, probably created by God as unique organisms, “normal” existence

• Eggs and babies are genuine– Nests are not yet clearly established– Transport of eggs is widespread

• Feathered dinosaurs are considered links by some scientists– Feathers disputed– Links disputed

Psalm 8:3,4,6-9Psalm 8:3,4,6-93 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your

fingers,the moon and the stars, which You have set

in place,4 What is man that You are mindful of him,…. ?6 You made him ruler over the works of Your

hands; You put everything under his feet:

7 All flocks and herds, and the beasts of the fields,8 The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,….9 O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

NIV