♪♪
The bones of dinosaurs are often very well preserved indeed.
But that's not the case with the skin or the soft parts.
So, imagining what they looked like has been largely amount of guess work.
But now, some truly exceptional fossils have been discovered
that have changed all that.
♪♪
David Attenborough: One of the most startling discoveries
David Attenborough: has been the presence of feathers
David Attenborough: on a large number of species, including the Velociraptor.
♪♪
The idea that dinosaurs like Velociraptor were fully feathered
is no longer at all controversial.
Dr. Darren Haish: We currently know of about 60 dinosaur species
Dr. Darren Haish: that are completely covered in feathers just like modern birds.
Some of the most perfect fossilized feathers have been discovered in China.
This is an image of a specimen that was found in 2015.
David Attenborough: It's called Zhenyuanlong.
David Attenborough: And you can probably guess from these huge claws on its feet
that is was related to a Velociraptor.
But also you can see amazingly perfect detail
of feathers down its tail and more on its arms, its wings.
♪♪
David Attenborough: For Velociraptor in particular, fossils have been even found with indentations in the bone,
David Attenborough: showing exactly where feathers would have been positioned.
(Chirping)
Prof. Paul Barrett: They would have looked very different from that
Prof. Paul Barrett: scaly monster that we're familiar with.
Prof. Paul Barrett: They would have been coated in lots and lots of feathers.
And would have looked a lot more like a kind of really terrifying turkey.
The fossil evidence for feathers, may be clear and incontrovertible.
But why would a flightless predator, like Velociraptor
need feathers in the first place?
David Attenborough: A downy coat may soften their image of scaly reptilian killers.
David Attenborough: But in fact, feathers would have made Velociraptors even more deadly,
David Attenborough: allowing them to attack unsuspecting prey
David Attenborough: where no other hunter would be able to venture.
♪♪
Dr. Darren Naish: When we look at modern animals, we see that feathers
Dr. Darren Naish: are useful for so much more than just flying.
♪♪
For an animal like Velociraptor, feathers would have helped to control movement.
Dr. Darren Naish: Particularly when the animal was leaping, climbing or changing direction during a hunt.
♪♪
(Chirping)
David Attenborough: Feathers can also function as a kind of suit of armor,
David Attenborough: providing protection from the blows of prey
David Attenborough: as well as from collisions with the environment.
♪♪
David Attenborough: And that would have allowed them to succeed
David Attenborough: even in the most difficult terrains.
♪♪