Scientists have discovered a 247-million-year-old fossil of a reptile with a unique row of plumes on its back, shedding new light on the origin of feathers. The find, published in the journal Nature, suggests that some ancient reptiles may have developed their own peculiar ornaments before birds evolved.
The creature, named Mirasaura grauvogeli, was discovered in northeastern France by Louis Grauvogel in 1939. Initially thought to be a fish fin, its true nature was only revealed after scientists studied the fossil more closely. The team found that Mirasaura’s skeleton shared similarities with another ancient reptile, Longisquama insignis, which had been debated as a potential feathered ancestor.
Researchers believe that Mirasaura’s plumes may have evolved from ordinary reptile skin, similar to how birds developed feathers. The discovery supports the idea that bird-like dinosaurs independently evolved feathers. A closer inspection of the fossil revealed that Mirasaura’s crest bore some key differences from feathers, but also shared similarities in terms of melanosomes and growth patterns.
The team proposes that the common ancestor of Mirasaura and birds must have already carried genetic instructions for building feather-like growths. However, only some reptiles went on to develop these characteristics, leaving scientists with more questions than answers. The discovery may lead to a new round of debates about the origins of feathers and the evolution of ancient reptiles.
While not all experts agree on the significance of Mirasaura’s crest, Richard Prum, an ornithologist at Yale University, acknowledged its importance in highlighting the versatility of reptile skin. As the scientific community continues to study this unusual fossil, it may yet reveal new insights into the mysteries of feather evolution and ancient reptile biology.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/science/archaeology-feathers-dinosaurs-mirasaura.html