Dinosaurs Evolve—and Fly 283feathers (figs. 12.1, 12.10, 12.11, and 12.12). These include incredible complete specimens
such as Sinosauropteryx, Protarchaeopteryx, Sinornithosaurus, Caudipteryx, the large theropod
Beipiaosaurus, and the tiny Microraptor.
Most of these non-bird dinosaurs clearly do not have flight feathers or other indica-
tions that their feathers were used for flight. Instead, they show that feathers were appar-
ently a widespread feature among theropod dinosaurs (and perhaps in other dinosaurs and
FIGURE 12.11. Feathered nonflying dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Liaoning beds of China, which show
the early stages of evolution from dinosaurs to birds. (A) Microraptor, which had feathers on both its hands
and legs, although it is still controversial whether it flew. (B) Sinosauropteryx, the first feathered nonavian
dinosaur to be discovered, with its beautiful preservation of hairlike feathers (especially visible along the
spine). (Photos courtesy M. Ellison and M. Norell, American Museum of Natural History)
(A)
(B)