Scientists have been able to trace down coats back to 125 million years ago, after fossils show the Beipiaosaurus was equipped with short and slender feathers where veins branched out on either side.
Other feathers no other parts of the fossil were long and wide, and didn't have the branching veins. Paeleontologist Xing Xu said the feathers were not for flying, rather for keeping warm and looking flash.
Xu said "Inferring the function of some structures of extinct animals would be very difficult, and in this case, we are not quite sure whether these feathers are for display or some other functions." The finding sheds light on the evolution of birds.
