• Question: Are feathers adapted scales? :)

    Asked by dan2412 to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 2 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Carol White

      Carol White answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Hi dan2412 – good question!

      Well because we believe that birds evolved from reptiles and reptiles are known to have scale, lots of scientists believe that feathers developed from scales!

      The idea is that the scales got longer, then had “fringes” on the edge and eventually turned into feathers!

      Cool eh?

    • Photo: Rebecca Lacey

      Rebecca Lacey answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Yes scientists reckon that this is the case. Also they think that legs developed into limbs too!

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