The surprising relationship between dainty neighbourhood ducks and the terrifying T-Rex will be revealed in the next In the Wild West lecture at the Western Australian Museum - Albany on 12 and 13 July.

‘Dinosaurs of the 21st Century: masters of the skies’, presented by Curator of Palaeontology Dr Mikael Siversson, will explain how 125 million year old raptor dinosaur fossils from China have confirmed the long-held belief birds and dinosaurs are closely related.

“The distinction between raptor dinosaurs and birds becomes blurred when you go back in time to the Early Cretaceous period, which started 145 million years ago, and beyond,” Dr Siversson said.

“Many of the early birds had teeth set in sockets like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and early raptor dinosaurs were covered with feathers.

“Dinosaurs are frequently portrayed as the epitome of evolutionary failure - having completely died out - but these new findings are challenging that view.”

The lecture will take the audience on a journey through time from the earliest dinosaurs in the Triassic period 230 million years ago, to the modern day species better known as birds.

Dr Mikael Siversson is a Curator of Palaeontology, at the Western Australian Museum, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia.

Dr Siversson was part of the team that discovered and described the first horned herbivore dinosaurs (ceratopsians) from Europe, and led the team that discovered the first and only known mammal from the age of the dinosaurs in Scandinavia.

Bookings are essential for all In the Wild West lectures and can be made online at www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest or by calling the WA Museum – Albany on
9841 4844.

The Harry Butler lecture series: In the Wild West is proudly presented by the WA Museum in partnership with Chevron Australia. The series showcases the work of Museum scientists, curators and associates in the areas of natural and social sciences.

LECTURE: Dinosaurs of the 21st century: masters of the skies
WHEN: Thursday 12 July, 6pm (nibbles and drinks from 5:30pm), Friday 13 July, 2pm
WHERE: Western Australian Museum – Albany, Residency Road, Albany
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: www.museum.wa.gov.au/inthewildwest           
COST: By gold coin donation

Niki Comparti, Western Australian Museum, 9212 3840, Niki.Comparti@museum.wa.gov.au