Suggestions for Reading on Evolution of Feathers

For those in the U.S., I definitely recommend that you pick up a copy of the March 2003, Scientific American magazine at your local library if you haven't already seen it.

Refer to pages 84-93. The article is by Richard O. Prum and Alan H. Brush and is titled, "Which Came First the Feather or the Bird?" It describes the latest fossil evidence for feather evolution and development in theropod dinosaurs and the various types of feather structure in each family.

(You might also be interested in seeing "The Origin of Birds and Their Flight" by Kevin Pradian and Luis M. Chiappe, Scientific American, Feb. 1998)

I presume the same articles may also be found in other countries issues of Scientific American, but I'm not sure if they will be found in the specific month's issues.

There is also a fantastic site on the web now (2008)Dinosaur-world.com

Part of the site is devoted to various feathered dinosaurs from many different families. Yup, including those that lead to modern birds including the pigeons. I suggest a look.

Frank Mosca

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