Troodontidae
The Troodontidae is a family of small to medium-sized theropod dinosaurs. Their skeletal remains have been unearthed by scientists in many areas of the world, including Asia, Europe, and North America.
Description
Troodontids were not very big, compared to some of the other dinosaurs. The smallest species was Mei long from China, which was only about the size of a duck. The largest species, on the other hand, was Troodon formosus from Western North America and Northern Asia, which was as long as a Tiger, and about as heavy as a large Wolf. They were primarily carnivorous, although it is possible that they may have been omnivorous, as well, eating numerous plants and vegetation, as well as meat.
Most troodontids had sharp claws on their hands and feet. They also had an especially-large, recurved, retractable claw, on the second toe of each of their hind feet. This was probably used for killing their prey. Their jaws were long and thin, and were filled with teeth that had serrations on them, like a steak-knife. Troodontids also had a long, slender, whip-like tail, which they used to balance the front-half, of their bodies, while they were walking.
Although we don't know what colouration these dinosaurs were, exactly, it is certainly possible that some species might have had spots, like a leopard, or a jaguar, or stripes, like a tiger, in order for them to be able to blend in to their environment, and better be able to sneak up on their prey.
Feathers
Evolutionists claim that these dinosaurs had feathers. This is primarily based on numerous specimens from China that appear to show evidence of feather-like structures, around the body. However, most, if not all, of these can quite easily be dismissed. First of all, there is always a large probability that many of these fossils are frauds, as what happened with the "Archaeoraptor" hoax,[1], where somebody attached the body of a dinosaur to the head of a bird, in fossil form. Second of all, all of the supposed cases of feathered "troodontids" are not actually troodontids.
The only two species that appear to preserve evidence of feathers in the fossil record are Anchiornis and Jinfengopteryx. However, careful study of their remains proves that both of these two creatures were not actually dinosaurs, at all. Instead, they are species of birds, that are now extinct.
And, so, creationists can easily and safely come to the conclusion that all of these purported "feathered" troodontids are fake, and that troodontids must have had scaly skin, just like all other dinosaurs and reptiles do.
References
- ↑ Archaeoraptor Skeptic's Dictionary. Accessed December 10th, 2011.
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