Feathered dinosaurs had 'flight-ready' brains

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

1 August 2013 Last updated at 08:10 GMT

Feathered dinosaurs had 'flight-ready' brains

By Melissa Hogenboom
Science reporter, BBC News

Several ancient dinosaurs evolved the brainpower needed for flight long before they could take to the skies, scientists say.

Non-avian dinosaurs were found to have "bird brains", larger than that of Archaeopteryx, a 150 million-year-old bird-like dinosaur.

Once regarded as a unique transition between dinosaurs and birds, scientists say Archaeopteryx has now lost its pivotal place.

The study is published in Nature.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23514985

[Warpy]

1. They might have used those small upper limbs as airfoils

to balance better when they were running. It makes more sense than keeping them in tight to their bodies.