Jingmai O'Connor

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First feathers discovered in 66-million-year-old dinosaur dung

As of September 2026: Active researcher

For the first time, scientists have found fossilized feathers inside dinosaur dung. The 66-million-year-old coprolite, unearthed in Montana, contains a wing feather, fluffy body feathers, bone fragments, and fish scales from an extinct aquatic bird called a hesperornithiform.

Updated Sep 27

Notable Quotes

What is exciting is to push the occurrence of modern feathers into non-modern birds.

from First feathers discovered in 66-million-year-old dinosaur dung · Updated Sep 27

Maybe these primitive feathers were good enough to keep them warm during the greenhouse world of the Mesozoic, but not good enough to keep them warm during this environmental catastrophe.

from First feathers discovered in 66-million-year-old dinosaur dung · Updated Sep 27