more significantly, the absence of alpha-keratin. While beta-keratin is found in all integumentary (skin and feather) cells of reptiles and birds, only bird feathers completely lack alpha-keratin. These findings show that, though poorly preserved, Shuvuuia likely possessed a coat of feathers. References Alvarezsaurids Late Cretaceous dinosaurs of Asia Feathered dinosaurs Taxa named by Mark Norell Fossil taxa described in 1998 Taxa named by Luis M. Chiappe Djadochta fauna