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Four-Winged Dinosaur Discovered

A team of Chinese paleontologists says it has discovered the fossilized remains of a small flying dinosaur with four wings. In the current issue of the journal Nature, this previously unheard of creature is identified as a microrapter with feathers on both its fore limbs and its rear limbs. Photographs also show a long, feather-fringed tale.

Experts on the links between dinosaurs and birds say this could be one of the most important fossils ever found. They also say this fossil could turn out to be a fake. NPR's John Nielsen reports.

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John Nielsen
John Nielsen covers environmental issues for NPR. His reports air regularly on NPR's award-winning news magazines, All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Weekend Edition. He also prepares documentaries for the NPR/National Geographic Radio Expeditions series, which is heard regularly on Morning Edition. Nielsen also occasionally serves as the substitute host for several NPR News programs.