Selective Factors Associated with the Origin of Fur and Feathers1

2000/08/01 by John A. Ruben, Terry D. Jones · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Ichthyology and Marine Biology

paper · doi:10.1668/0003-1569(2000)040[0585:sfawto]2.0.co;2

openalex publication_date 2000/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26

Abstract

Conventional wisdom notwithstanding, fur and feathers are unlikely to have arisen in direct association with elevated metabolic rates in early mammals, birds, or their ancestors. A complete insulative fur coat probably appeared first in the earliest mammals long after mammalian ancestors (therapsids) had attained mammalian, or near-mammalian, metabolic rates. The evolution of feathers was unlinked to the evolution of modern avian metabolic rates since early, fully flighted birds (i.e., Archaeopteryx) retained an ectothermic metabolic status. Recent claims of “feathered dinosaurs” should be regarded with caution.

Citations

• Two feathered dinosaurs from northeastern China
• An exceptionally well-preserved theropod dinosaur from the Yixian Formation of China
• Dinosaur bones: fossils or pseudomorphs? The pitfalls of physiology reconstruction from apatitic fossils
• Sordes pilosus and the nature of the pterosaur flight apparatus
• On the Evolution and Adaptive Significance of Postnatal Growth Rates in the Terrestrial Vertebrates
• Archaeopteryx and the origin of birds

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