Tianyulong confuciusi, as "protofeathers" - the precursors of modern feathers. ❋ Unknown (2009)
The primitive, hair-like feathers known as protofeathers likely belonged to theropods - dinosaurs similar to tiny Tyrannosaurus rexes - that roamed the swampy forests of Alberta 70 million years ago, said Alexander P. ❋ Unknown (2011)
The team identified fossilized melanosomes-pigment-bearing organelles-in the feathers and filament-like "protofeathers" of fossil birds and dinosaurs from northeastern China. ❋ Unknown (2010)
Structures described as "protofeathers" in the dinosaur fossils Sinosauropteryx and Sinithosaurus are filamentous and sometimes have interlaced structures bearing no obvious resemblance to feathers. ❋ Unknown (2010)
The filaments or 'protofeathers' are clearly visible on the fossil ❋ Unknown (2009)
But Prof Lingham-Soliar, who attacks this interpretation of the Chinese fossil in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biological Sciences, tells The Daily Telegraph: 'Scientists must really now choose - belief in the nebulous idea of protofeathers or the reality of collagen, the dominant protein in vertebrates. ❋ Unknown (2008)
'I am convinced from the nonsense spouted by many of the people who denounce collagen in favour of protofeathers that they have never actually seen collagen in its natural or decomposing state.' ❋ Unknown (2008)
They took pigments from protofeathers and analyzed them heavily. ❋ Unknown (2010)
Glad that a decent analysis is finally throwing some cold water on the ridiculous claim of the protofeathers. ❋ Unknown (2007)
Basal tyrannosauroids from China and evidence for protofeathers in tyrannosauroids. ❋ Darren Naish (2006)
Other experts had previously concluded that distinctive patterns found on the skin of a Sinosauropteryx fossil were remnants of downy protofeathers, making the species the most primitive feathered dinosaur. ❋ Unknown (2007)
"The existence of protofeathers in these dinosaurs was considered critical evidence that birds were derived from dinosaurs," said study co-author Alan Feduccia, a bird evolution expert at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ❋ Unknown (2007)
To read now that "larger predators, perhaps even Tyrannosaurus rex, may have had feathers or downy 'protofeathers,' at least as juveniles" is just really cool. ❋ Unknown (2007)
And without protofeathers in Sinosauropteryx, the authors argue, the theory that feathers first evolved in dinosaurs—not for flight but for insulation—falls flat. ❋ Unknown (2007)
There is no credible evidence to justify the portrayal on the January 2002 Auk of Microraptor with a thick, white downy coating of putative protofeathers A. ❋ Unknown (2005)
To give Blast a hint as to why “protofeathers” (that is, long, thin, tubular structures that cover the body) are selectable (note - this is just one possibility), he might want to look up the reason why polar bears are white (or occasionally green). ❋ Unknown (2005)
I guess the basic question is whether there is any evidence of protofeathers on the fossil that the illustration was representing. ❋ Unknown (2005)
