By the end of the 1980s, most palaeontologists accepted that birds were the descendants of bipedal, mainly carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods. At that time, the only known fossil to document the evolutionary transition to birds was Archaeopteryx from the Jurassic Period which was discovered in Germany. This changed with the discovery in the mid-1990s … Continue reading Speaker Series 2018: Insights from China on the Dinosaurian Origins of Birds
feathers
Speaker Series 2017: How Did Birds Get Their Wings? Feathered Ornithomimids from Alberta Shed Light on the Origin of Wings
The discovery of the first feathered dinosaurs in 1998 irrevocably changed the perception of the physical appearance of dinosaurs. No longer the scaly reptiles of our imaginations, these animals were covered with feathers similar to birds. Since that first discovery, over 40 different species of dinosaurs are now known to have been covered with feathers … Continue reading Speaker Series 2017: How Did Birds Get Their Wings? Feathered Ornithomimids from Alberta Shed Light on the Origin of Wings
Fossils In Focus
The Museum’s collection of fossils is vast and diverse. The majority of specimens have been found right here in Alberta, the most remarkable place in the world to find fossils from 80 – 55 million years ago. Only a fraction of our collection is on display throughout the Museum. This rotating exhibit will highlight some of our most remarkable … Continue reading Fossils In Focus