Scientists discover a feathered Tyrannosaurus and instead of calling it ” Flying Calvinosaurus Rex” they call it: Yutyrannus huali .  Yeah, guys, that name will excite kids.  Not.

It’s not your father’s tyrannosaur: Yutyrannus huali, a newly discovered ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex, was covered from head to tail in downy feathers.

At 30 feet long and weighing 3,000 pounds, Y. huali wasn’t so large as T. rex, which came 60 million years later, but it’s the largest feathered tyrannosaur yet found. That such a big creature was feathered suggests its iconic descendant could have been similarly plumed.

The discovery provides “direct evidence for the presence of extensively feathered gigantic dinosaurs,” wrote paleontologists led by Xing Xu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in their description of the new dinosaur, published April 5 in Nature.

Okay, I get that scientists want to be exact, but if they can name species after Gary Larson, the creator of the Far Side, then surely they can come up with a more exciting name for a freakin’ tyrannosaur with feathers.  Heck, the riptaylorsaurus rex would have more pizazz to it, even though folks above a certain age would be the only ones to get it.  (Maybe call it Gagasaurus Rex or something.)

I don’t think it could fly. 

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

And that illustrates what’s wrong with physics and biology.  It would be totally awesome if something like that could fly (breathing fire and shooting lasers from its eyes would be the greatest thing ever).

The gagasaurus Rex wouldn’t fly either. It would be covered in meat thus attracting raptors to have it for lunch.

Cap’t Jack

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

Who cares? With a colorful plumage it would be getting laid a lot. That would make Darwin smile. 

traveler - 06 April 2012 06:26 AM

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

Who cares? With a colorful plumage it would be getting laid a lot. That would make Darwin smile. 

I meant that calling it a “Flying Rex” wouldn’t be right, since it couldn’t fly.

Science needs a marketing department

George - 06 April 2012 10:12 AM

traveler - 06 April 2012 06:26 AM

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

Who cares? With a colorful plumage it would be getting laid a lot. That would make Darwin smile. 

I meant that calling it a “Flying Rex” wouldn’t be right, since it couldn’t fly.

Neither can a well known species of squirrel, but “falling with style squirrel” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like “flying squirrel” does.

domokato - 06 April 2012 02:41 PM

Science needs a marketing department

That must be some form of oxymoron… 

Take care,

Derek

I’m not sure any name will be effective, most kids today don’t care about dinosaurs.  I disagree that science needs to be made more fabulous - kind of like George Carlin’s character did with the chuch in this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BEZaPN8gUY.  HILARIOUS!  “Pop culturizing” science will run it into the ground IMO.

mid atlantic - 06 April 2012 04:55 PM

I’m not sure any name will be effective, most kids today don’t care about dinosaurs.

WOW! I’ve never met a young kid who was not dinosaur crazy!

asanta - 06 April 2012 11:50 PM

mid atlantic - 06 April 2012 04:55 PM

I’m not sure any name will be effective, most kids today don’t care about dinosaurs.

WOW! I’ve never met a young kid who was not dinosaur crazy!

No kidding! (Sorry about the bad pun)

These idiots know that well and take full advantage: http://creationmuseum.org/events/workshops/#drawingdinos

Ah yes, adventures in indoctrination and unlearning! The creationist museum, drop your brains at the door and ride rexie. Some of our churches in the immediate area take bus trips there.

Cap’t Jack

George - 06 April 2012 10:12 AM

traveler - 06 April 2012 06:26 AM

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

Who cares? With a colorful plumage it would be getting laid a lot. That would make Darwin smile. 

I meant that calling it a “Flying Rex” wouldn’t be right, since it couldn’t fly.

I know. I guess my jokes are as obvious as Occam’s. 

traveler - 07 April 2012 06:02 AM

George - 06 April 2012 10:12 AM

traveler - 06 April 2012 06:26 AM

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

Who cares? With a colorful plumage it would be getting laid a lot. That would make Darwin smile. 

I meant that calling it a “Flying Rex” wouldn’t be right, since it couldn’t fly.

I know. I guess my jokes are as obvious as Occam’s. 

No, I am just slow.

BTW, the peacock’s tale used to make Darwin sick, so I don’t know how he would have felt about a feathered dinosaur. 

George - 07 April 2012 06:23 AM

traveler - 07 April 2012 06:02 AM

George - 06 April 2012 10:12 AM

traveler - 06 April 2012 06:26 AM

George - 06 April 2012 04:49 AM

I don’t think it could fly. 

Who cares? With a colorful plumage it would be getting laid a lot. That would make Darwin smile. 

I meant that calling it a “Flying Rex” wouldn’t be right, since it couldn’t fly.

I know. I guess my jokes are as obvious as Occam’s. 

No, I am just slow.

BTW, the peacock’s tale used to make Darwin sick, so I don’t know how he would have felt about a feathered dinosaur. 

You’re not slow. What didn’t Darwin like about the p-tale? I didn’t know that.