Giant Feathered Dinosaur Discovered, "King of Beautiful Feathers"

A large feathered dinosaur has been discovered in 125-million-year-old strata in Liaoning Province, China.

The discovery consists of one adult and two juveniles.
The adult is estimated to be 9 meters long and weigh 1,400 kg.

While other feathered dinosaurs like Sinosauropteryx have been found in the same strata, this fossil was far larger than any previously discovered feathered dinosaur.

It was named "Yutyrannus huali," which means "king of beautiful feathers."
Its entire body was covered in feathers about 15-20 centimeters long.

The structure of the feathers suggests they were "used for insulation, not for flight."
Typically, large animals retain body heat easily, so it was thought that "feathers developed in small dinosaurs."

The discovery of Yutyrannus huali is significant because it shows that "some large theropods also had feathers."
It's also possible the feathers were used for incubating eggs or for sexual display.