Scaly Birds

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Scaly Birds
Topic Started: Oct 2 2010, 06:07 PM (431 Views)
Scrublord	Oct 2 2010, 06:07 PM Post #1
Father Pellegrini Posts: 4,423 Group: Members Member #169 Joined: May 5, 2009 Gender: Male Area of expertise: Future Evolution Nationality: American (unfortunately) Favorite Quote: Life can seem a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It's never easy when there's so much on the line.	So birds may not be able to re-evolve their wings into functional, limbs, but could they re-evolve another reptilian trait--their scales. Specifically, I was wondering if it was possible for birds toevolve their feathers back into fused, plate-like, "pseudo-scales" like those on a pangolin. Any thoughts?
	My Projects: The Neozoic Redux Valhalla--Take Three! The Big One Deviantart Account: http://elsqiubbonator.deviantart.com In the end, the best advice I could give you would be to do your project in a way that feels natural to you, rather than trying to imitate some geek with a laptop in Colorado. --Heteromorph


Pando	Oct 2 2010, 07:03 PM Post #2
Obey or I'll send you to the moon Posts: 5,648 Group: Members Member #275 Joined: Feb 24, 2010 Area of expertise: Future Evolution	I would think that it would start with a featherless bird. Then the foot scales grow over the naked skin, making a "scaly bird".



Scrublord	Oct 2 2010, 07:08 PM Post #3
Father Pellegrini Posts: 4,423 Group: Members Member #169 Joined: May 5, 2009 Gender: Male Area of expertise: Future Evolution Nationality: American (unfortunately) Favorite Quote: Life can seem a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It's never easy when there's so much on the line.	How would a bird be featherless?
	My Projects: The Neozoic Redux Valhalla--Take Three! The Big One Deviantart Account: http://elsqiubbonator.deviantart.com In the end, the best advice I could give you would be to do your project in a way that feels natural to you, rather than trying to imitate some geek with a laptop in Colorado. --Heteromorph


Toad of Spades	Oct 2 2010, 07:43 PM Post #4
Clorothod Posts: 624 Group: Members Member #114 Joined: Dec 27, 2008 Nationality: United States Favorite Quote: Street smart is just an excuse for dumb people to use the word smart to describe themselves.	There are some birds that are born with a genetic defect that makes them featherless. They have naked skin without feathers or scales, though they retain scaly feet. Though it would be more simple for the feathers to transition to scales. Bantam chickens are fluffy feathered chickens whose feet are covered with feathers instead of scales. A gene changes the development of the scales on the feet to feathers. The transition from feathers to scales would be relatively easy. As for wings, it could work for them to re-evolve clawed hands. Some phorusrhacids re-evolved claws on two of their fingers. Ostriches today have clawed fingers as well. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch for some who re-evolved claws on their fingers to adapt them further into fully functional dromaeosaur-like hands again. Edited by Toad of Spades, Oct 2 2010, 07:45 PM.
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Carlos	Oct 6 2010, 07:42 AM Post #5
Adveho in me Lucifero Posts: 11,702 Group: Members Member #5 Joined: May 31, 2008 Gender: Male Nationality: Portugayse Favorite Quote: Blame is the playing of children and is given to many like a gift that cannot be returned. Acceptance is the tool of the mature that is rarely loaned out.	Pangolin like "scales" could evolve from modified feathers. Much easier than loosing the feathers and covering themselves in real scales again.
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