Advances in scientific technology are upending what we know about pterosaurs, the reptilian close cousins to dinosaurs who were the first of Earth’s vertebrates to achieve flapping-powered flight.

Pterosaurs, those flying reptiles that soared over the heads of dinosaurs, have long been depicted with scaly skin and bat-like, hairless wings. But a new study paints them as far cuddlier creatures ...

Dec. 17 (UPI) --New research proves pterosaurs had feathers too, the same kinds as dinosaurs and birds. The discovery pushes back the origin of feathers by at least 70 million years. For millions of ...

Feather microstructures can remarkably change the appearance of red plumage without any corresponding changes in either pigment concentration or molecule types Adult male Brazilian tanager ...

Whether it is the bright red of a cardinal or the distinct patterns of parrots, avian species are known for their colorful feathers. Now, some new research suggests flying creatures that dominated ...

A few years ago, Maria McNamara was invited to Brussels by fellow paleontologist Pascal Godefroit and presented with an intriguing opportunity. At the time, they were collaborating on a study of an ...

Over the last two decades, spectacular palaeontological discoveries, mainly from China, have revolutionized our understanding in the origin and evolution of feathers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Major novel ...

An international team of palaeontologists has discovered that the flying reptiles, pterosaurs, actually had four kinds of feathers, and these are shared with dinosaurs -- pushing back the origin of ...