Letters to the Editor Evidence for animals are also preserved there.5 in Juravenator does not substantiate Silvestru asserts that anatomical a lack of feathers in all dinosaurs. feathered dinosaurs? similarities between theropods found Juravenator may have had feathers with feathers and those preserved that were not preserved or Juravena- eathered dinosaur specimens are without feathers should not be used tor and Sinosauropteryx may belong to Fbecoming common (table 1). In to assume that the latter had feathers separate baramins. a recent article, Dr Emil Silvestru (abstract, p. 47). However, the fossils Silvestru argues that the presumed critiqued evidence for feathered of most small theropods preserve no feathers of Liaoning theropods were dinosaurs presented in a Royal Ontario integument whatsoever.6 Thus, arguing not their own. He speculates that these Museum exhibit.1 While creationists that absence of preserved feathers is structures were either ‘bird feathers should address these specimens, it was evidence for a lack of feathers is erro- which are preserved with the dinosaur disappointing to find factual errors and neous. Absence of evidence for feath- fossils’ or ‘the remains of a water plant unsupported assertions in this article. ers is not evidence of their absence. that grew in those ancient lakes’ (p. 44). Silvestru claims that since the The same argument could be applied An examination of the feathers of most Chinese province of ‘Liaoning is the to the featherless fossils of some birds,7 of these specimens renders such ideas only site where “feathered dinosaurs” yet these birds were unquestionably incredible, because their arrangement have been found’ (abstract, p. 42), the feathered. When a feathered thero- coincides with that of modern feathered dinosaurs preserved there probably pod is discovered, creationists should animals. They consistently project out only appear to be feathered due to the expect other members of that baramin from the skin in semiparallel fashion. conditions under which they were fos- to be feathered as well, regardless of The pennaceous structures visible in silized. However, feathered dinosaurs where they are found or whether or not certain specimens9 are oriented so that have also been found elsewhere: Jin- feathers were preserved. they round off at their distal ends. The fengopteryx was discovered in the Chi- One such theropod is Juravena- simple fibres of other specimens10 thin nese province of Hebei,2 Pedopenna in tor,8 which is similar to the feathered from their bases to their tips.11 Their the Mongolian Autonomous Region,3 Sinosauropteryx but preserved without length varies depending on location, and Shuvuuia in Mongolia.4 Also, one feathers and with patches of scales with longer structures consistently on should expect the Liaoning deposits to on its tail and hind legs. This was the trailing edges of the forelimbs. The preserve details of dinosaurian soft tis- unexpected due to its presumed close chances of bird feathers or plants being sue that were hitherto unknown since relationship to Sinosauropteryx. Al- preserved this way are incredibly small, hair, feathers, scales, internal organs though viewed by Silvestru as confirm- especially in multiple specimens. and even colour patterns of other ing his assertions, the lack of feathers Furthermore, these structures do Table 1. Feathered dinosaur specimens. # Feathered Taxon Reference Specimens Currie, P.J. and Chen, P., Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 38(12):1705–1727, Sinosauropteryx 3 2001. Shuvuuia 1 Schweitzer, M.H. et al., Journal of Experimental Zoology 285:146–157, 1999. Protarchaeopteryx 1 Ji, Q. et al., Nature 393:753–761, 1998. Caudipteryx zoui 2 Ji, Q. et al., Nature 393:753–761, 1998. Caudipteryx dongi 1 Zhou, Z. and Wang, X., Vertebrata PalAsiatica 38(2):111–127, 2000. Beipiaosaurus 1 Xu, X. et al., Nature 399:350–354, 1999. Microraptor zhaoianus 1 Xu, X. et al., Nature 408:705–708, 2000. Microraptor gui 6 Xu, X. et al., Nature 421:335–340, 2003. Czerkas, S.A. et al.; in: Czerkas, S.J. (ed.), Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Cryptovolans 2 Flight, The Dinosaur Museum, Blanding, Utah, pp. 97–126, 2002. Sinornithosaurus 1 Xu, X. et al., Nature 410:200–204, 2001. NGMC 91 (juvenile 1 Ji, Q. et al., Nature 410:1084–1088, 2001. Sinornithosaurus?) Czerkas, S.A. and Yuan, C.; in: Czerkas, S.J. (ed.), Feathered Dinosaurs and the Scansoriopteryx 1 Origin of Flight, The Dinosaur Museum, Blanding, Utah, pp. 63–95, 2002. Epidendrosaurus 1 Zhang, F. et al., Naturwissenschaften 89:394–398, 2002. Yixianosaurus 1 Xu, X. and Wang, X., Vertebrata PalAsiatica 41(3):195–202, 2003. Dilong 1 Xu, X. et al., Nature 431:680–684, 2004. Ji, Q. et al., Geological Bulletin of China 24(3):197–205, 2005; <staff.washington.edu/ Jinfengopteryx 1 eoraptor/Troodontidae.htm#Jinfengopteryxelegans>. Pedopenna 1 Xu, X. and Zhang, F., Naturwissenschaften 92(4):173–177, 2005. 58 JOURNAL OF CREATION 21(1) 2007 Letters not resemble plants; they look like question is unnecessary from an evo- 4. Chiappe, L.M., Norell, M.A. and Clark, J.M., feathers. Their preservation is often lutionary perspective. Unlike birds, The skull of a relative of the stem-group bird so good that distinct quills, rachises, pterosaurs did not rely on feathers for Mononykus, Nature 392:275–278, 1998. and vanes with individual barbs may flight; each wing was composed of a 5. Norell, M.A., Unearthing the Dragon, Pi Press, be discerned.12 They are also virtually membrane that stretched from a greatly New York, pp. 60–61, 2005. indistinguishable from the undisputed elongated fourth finger back to the 6. Paul, G.S., Dinosaurs of the Air, The Johns feathers of fossil birds such as Confu- body.17 Recent studies have concluded Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, p. 65, 2002. ciusornis.13 that pterosaurs were excellent fliers.18 Regarding the specimens preserved Why would they need to evolve a new 7. For example: Zhou, Z. and Zhang, F., Anatomy of the primitive bird Sapeornis chaoyangensis with simple fibres covering the body, flight system to replace one that was from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, the possibility of plants masquerading already highly effective? China, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences as feathers has been ruled out in at least In an attempt to explain dinosaur 40:731–747, 2003. one instance. The fibres surrounding and pterosaur extinction, Silvestru 8. Göhlich, U.B. and Chiappe, L.M., A new Shuvuuia are uncrushed, three dimen- states that the post-Flood environment carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic sional, and hollow. High-resolution ‘favoured the warm-blooded birds Solnhofen archipelago, Nature 440(7082):329– electron microscopy and chemical and mammals, while the dinosaurs 332, 2006. analysis of the beta-keratin within the and pterosaurs were very quickly 9. I am referring specifically toMicroraptor gui, fibres has shown them to be some form demised’ (p. 47). However, the Bible Cryptovolans, Jinfengopteryx, Pedopenna, of epidermal structure, feathers being does not explain how these animals Protarchaeopteryx and Caudipteryx. the most likely candidate.14 went extinct, and numerous studies 10. Here I am referring to Sinosauropteryx, Dilong, Describing a Psittacosaurus speci- have concluded that many dinosaurs19 Beipiaosaurus, Microraptor zhaoianus and Shuvuuia. men, Silvestru states that it is said to and all pterosaurs20 were likely warm- have ‘“strand-like bristles” (primitive blooded. 11. Paul, ref. 6, p. 68. feathers) on its tail.’ He then scoffs at The evidence for feathered thero- 12. Details of such complex feathers are preserved this interpretation: ‘It must have been pods is very strong. I suggest that, with Microraptor gui, Cryptovolans, the quite a fashion in those days!’ (p. 45). unnamed NGMC 91, Jinfengopteryx, rather than focusing primarily on Pedopenna, Protarchaeopteryx and Ridicule is no substitute for argument. morphological differences between Caudipteryx. Regardless of whether the bristles are theropods and birds as whole groups, 13. Chiappe, L.M., Ji, S., Ji, Q. and Norell, simple feathers, paleontologists who creationists should use similarities and M.A., Anatomy and systematics of the studied these structures concluded that differences between specific theropods Confuciusornithidae from the late Mesozoic of they are genuine. The soft tissue pres- and between specific birds to determine northeastern China, Bulletin of the American ervation on this specimen is exquisite, their various baramins. A picture Museum of Natural History 242:1–89, 1999. authenticating the porcupine-like quills should eventually emerge that, rather 14. Schweitzer, M.H., Watt, J.A., Avci, R., Knapp, and revealing other details previously than confirming evolutionary expecta- L., Chiappe, L.M., Norell, M.A. and Marshall, unknown in Psittacosaurus: its body tions, is in perfect accord with the Bi- M., Beta-keratin specific immunological was covered in plate-like scales sur- reactivity in feather-like structures of the ble’s account of the amazing diversity Cretaceous alvarezsaurid, Shuvuuia deserti, rounding roundels and quadrangular designed by our creative God. Journal of Experimental Zoology 285:146– tubercles, and a horny sheath covered 157, 1999. 15 the horns on the side of the skull. Robert O. Clark 15. Norell, ref. 5, p. 164. Silvestru points out that the exhibit Pittsburg, CA does not explain ‘how and why scales 16. Prum, R.O. and Brush, A.H., The evolutionary UNITED STATES of AMERICA origin and diversification of feathers,Quarterly would evolve into feathers’ (p. 45), Review of Biology 77(3):261–295, 2002. observing that its version of feather References 17. Shipman, P., Taking Wing, Simon & Schuster, evolution begins with a filament. This New York, pp. 221–222, 1998. is easily explained: some paleontolo- 1. Silvestru, E., Flying dinosaurs, flightless dinosaurs and other evolutionary fantasies, 18. Unwin, D.M., The Pterosaurs, Pi Press, New gists no longer consider scales precur- Journal of Creation 20(2):42–47, 2006. York, pp. 164–195, 2006.