Did they determine this by comparing what DNA fragments they’ve managed to recover, or by physical skeletal structure similarities, or what?

I’m no expert in the field, but I just don’t see it.

  • @disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
    0•6 months ago

    Over the last 15 years, scientists have updated the theorized appearance of thousands of species of dinosaurs to have feathers. Most of these species are in the theropod family. You’ll be seeing updates in natural history museums as time goes on.

    https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs-among-us/feathers

    There’s also the chicken’s talons to consider. Birds with similar claws are called raptors due to their similarity in appearance to the dinosaur. This does not mean they are direct descendants, however, but that they have a genealogically shared ancestor.

    • @0ops@lemm.ee
      0•6 months ago

      According to Merriam Webster, raptor described birds first. And we don’t call certain birds raptors strictly for their appearance or lineage; raptor means bird of prey. Lots of birds have gnarly claws but aren’t raptors, like emus, who use their claws for self defense.