early tyrannosauroid (with protofeathers!!)

[Ken Kinman]

Dear All,
      It's not a "huge" surprise, but exciting nevertheless.  A primitive tyrannosauroid from China (with feathery integument) is described in today's issue of Nature.  However, from my perspective, it may be even more important in pinning down exactly where tyrannosaurs split off in the theropod tree.  Many dinosaur systematists will no doubt be busy plugging this new little beastie into their cladistic analyses to test and retest various topologies.  Link provided below to the news brief from Nature.
            --- Cheers,
                    Ken Kinman

http://www.nature.com/news/2004/041004/full/041004-11.html