Did T-rex have feathers?

Question from Melissa Sutton

No evidence of feathers has yet been found on fossils of Tyrannosaurus rex. However, feathers have been found on fossils of related species of Tyrannosaurid, and some palaeontologists think it’s quite likely that Tyrannosaurus rex may have had feathers too. Others dispute this, as some fossils show clear evidence that Tyrannosaurus rex had scales, and being covered in feathers could have caused such a big creature to overheat. It is possible that the T-rex may just have had a few feathers, like a plume. There is much debate about the subject but no conclusive answer. Unless palaeontologists dig up a feathered T-rex, that is.


Answered by Tom  Lean for Brain Dump in How It Works issue 115

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