Paleontologists have discovered a new species of giant, feathered dinosaur, distantly related to Tyrannosaurus rex.
It's called Yutyrannus huali -- "beautiful feathered tyrant" -- and it might be the largest feathered animal to have walked the Earth.
Yutyrannus remains dated to 125 million years ago were found in northeastern China, and researchers estimate that the dinosaur would have measured 30 feet long and weighed 1.5 tons -- 1/5th the weight of a T. rex.
Its "protofeathers," believed to be similar to the down of a baby chick, probably covered its entire body and were likely used for warmth during the extra-chilly first half of the Cretaceous period.
Researchers are currently studying the fossil evidence for clues about the color of the dinosaur's feathers.
[natgeo]
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