Tiny dinosaur 'the peacock of its day'

Published on Wednesday 22 October 2008 22:29

A PIGEON-SIZED feathered dinosaur with impressive tail plumage may have been the peacock of its day, scientists have discovered.

The Chinese creature, named Epidexipteryx hui, lacked the ability to fly but it did possess four elongated ribbon-like tail feathers which were almost certainly ornamental and may have been used to attract mates.

Alternatively, the feathers, which might have been brightly coloured, may have been to intimidate rivals.

Scientists, writing in the journal Nature, believe it could be evidence that display plumage evolved before flight feathers.