New Fossil Reveals Dual Skin Types in Early Feathered Dinosaur

Psittacosaurus fossil shows a mix of bird-like and reptilian skin, offering insights into feather evolution.

The Psittacosaurus fossil, found in China, dates back to the Early Cretaceous period, around 130 million years ago.
Analysis reveals that Psittacosaurus had bird-like skin where feathers grew and reptilian skin where it didn't.
This dual skin type suggests an evolutionary transition phase from scales to feathers.
The study provides evidence that early feathered dinosaurs had a mix of skin types for different body regions.
Future research aims to explore the transition from reptilian to bird-like skin in more detail.