• Question: Was there such a thing as a four winged dinosaur?

    Asked by courtneysaaur to David, Helen, Ian, rhysphillips, Sarah on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Ian van der Linde

      Ian van der Linde answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Yes, scientists did find a four winged dinosaur in China! The wings aren’t fully formed flapping wings like a bird, but more like four sheets of skin for gliding. A bit like a sugar glider, except that the sheets of skin don’t meet up in the middle.

    • Photo: Rhys Phillips

      Rhys Phillips answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Yes. In fact, I saw previews this weekend of a new BBC TV series called Planet Dinosaur coming out later this year – I suggest you watch it when it comes out as they cover the four winged dinosaur on that and the animations are superb.

    • Photo: Helen Fletcher

      Helen Fletcher answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Yes! They represent an intermediate form that could help to explain how ground-based dinosaurs evolved into feathered flying animals, which eventually evolved into birds. They should keep this in mind for Jurassic Park 5!

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