Coelurosaurian Questions

[ZoPteryx]

Hopefully I won't start a new debate (we've got enough of that on a different thread ), but I'd like to know:
a) What types of feathers did the different groups in this clade have? (Veined, "fluff", stages?, etc.)
b) What range of motion did their wrists and arms have? (fold like a bird's wing?)
c) Anything else you'd like to share!

Thanks!

[Dinoguy2]

For question 1...
Tyrannosaurs: Fur-like Fluff or down feathers.
Compsognathids: Down feathers
Ornithomimids: unknown
Alvarezsaurids: Down feathers
Therizinosaurs: Down feathers and specialized quills.
Oviraptorosaurs: vaned feathers
Paravians: aerodynamic vaned feathers.

For question 2...
See my blog post, here:
http://dinogoss.blogspot.com/2011/05/know-when-to-fold-em.html

[ZoPteryx]

For question 1...
Tyrannosaurs: Fur-like Fluff or down feathers.
Compsognathids: Down feathers
Ornithomimids: unknown
Alvarezsaurids: Down feathers
Therizinosaurs: Down feathers and specialized quills.
Oviraptorosaurs: vaned feathers
Paravians: aerodynamic vaned feathers.

For question 2...
See my blog post, here:
http://dinogoss.blogspot.com/2011/05/know-when-to-fold-em.html

Thank you!    That's very helpful!

[DeadToothCrackKnuckle]

Even though Julio said to take this with a grain of salt, I would say this is still pretty accurate...

[Gryphoceratops]

Range of motion really depends on the kind of animal in question.  Even amongst closely related theropods there is variation in what they could/couldn't do with their front limbs.  None of them could do bunny hands though thats for sure. 

[stoneage]

Even though Julio said to take this with a grain of salt, I would say this is still pretty accurate...

Where can I find that chart blown up to a size I can read it?

[DeadToothCrackKnuckle]

Even though Julio said to take this with a grain of salt, I would say this is still pretty accurate...

Where can I find that chart blown up to a size I can read it?

Here's Julio's deviantART gallery.

http://karkajou1993.deviantart.com/

[Dinoguy2]

Good chart, but why on earth do people insist on calling down "fur-like protofeathers"? I don't call the stuff covering a baby chicken "protofeathers" and its identical in structure to the stuff on Sinosauropteryx.

[Himmapaan]

Here is the relevant page (which I think is what Stoneage wanted  ). Click 'download' to view original size.

[stoneage]

Here is the relevant page (which I think is what Stoneage wanted  ). Click 'download' to view original size.

Thanks Niroot, that is what I wanted.  It does blow up to be awfully big though.  I think I could have gotten by with a little smaller picture.  But at least I got the gist of it.

[Gryphoceratops]

Its a good chart.  I don't really think the smaller ceratopsids like psittacosaurus had "feathers" though.  I've been told by people who studied the specimen they are really more like modified elongated scales than fur or feathers. 

[Sharptooth]

Its a good chart.  I don't really think the smaller ceratopsids like psittacosaurus had "feathers" though.  I've been told by people who studied the specimen they are really more like modified elongated scales than fur or feathers.

Really? Could you tell me something more about it?

[ZoPteryx]

That's a nice chart.   Where do Scanisauropterygids fall on it?  I thought they were in the Paraves, but they didn't have veined feathers (did they?).

[Gryphoceratops]

Its a good chart.  I don't really think the smaller ceratopsids like psittacosaurus had "feathers" though.  I've been told by people who studied the specimen they are really more like modified elongated scales than fur or feathers.

Really? Could you tell me something more about it?

Well supposedly they were really just really long thin scales.  Think iguana spines to the extreme.  When looked at under a microscope this is evident.  I'll see if I can find a paper on it although I'm not sure if one was ever published. 

[Dinoguy2]

That's a nice chart.   Where do Scanisauropterygids fall on it?  I thought they were in the Paraves, but they didn't have veined feathers (did they?).

They sure did! Scansoripteryx preserved a herringbone pattern in its wing feathers indicating they were vaned. The tail feathers of Epidexipteryx had solid vanes like Confuciusornis.