jumpingjacktrash:

thepioden:

jumpingjacktrash:

bookrat:

Compsognathus~ 

someone pls explain me why this dinosaur is furry

Compsognathids show clear fossil evidence of extensive primitive feather covering from skin impressions; specifically, Compsognathus and close relatives appear to have had simpler protofeathers (looking more like the shaggy body feathers on a Kiwi or Emu than the pennaceous feathers you would see on a modern bird’s wing). If you’re making a 3-D model, using a shaggy faux fur is the most efficient way to mimic this look. (We can also tell from pigment protein analysis in the fossils that Compsognathus’ relative Sinosauropteryx had a stripey tail like this! Which I find very neat.)

cool, thanks!