Fossil Reveals Bizarre Gliding Creature that Hunted Birds 120 Million Years Ago
- On Thursday, researchers announced the discovery of Jian changmaensis, a 120 million-year-old microraptor found in China's Changma Basin, according to a study published in the Annals of Carnegie Museum.
- Matt Lamanna, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, described Jian as a barn-owl-sized predator that likely glided between trees hunting birds.
- Preserved in three dimensions, the fossil's intact shoulder and forelimb bones offer 'critical new insight' into flight evolution, a rarity among microraptor specimens typically found flattened.
- Jingmai O'Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum, noted the predator likely preyed on ancient birds like Gansus yumenensis, filling a specialized ecological niche.
- This discovery expands the known geographical range of microraptors beyond northeastern China, helping scientists clarify the evolutionary line between non-avian dinosaurs and ancestors of modern birds.
35 Articles
35 Articles
New species of four-winged, predatory dinosaur found in China
Scientists have discovered a new species of non-avian, predatory dinosaur called Jian changmaensis that lived 120 million years ago in northwestern China. The newly discovered dinosaur is a feathered Velociraptor cousin with distinctive arm and shoulder bones. Based on the single recovered arm fossil, paleontologists suspect this dinosaur possessed long feathers on all four limbs, giving it a four-winged appearance. Though incapable of true, po…
Found in China a Fossil of a Strange Glider Creature with 'Four Wings' and Predatory Primitive Birds
A recent paleontological finding has changed the view that had so far of the microraptors, a group of predatory dinosaurs characterized by their ability to plan. A team of researchers has analyzed a 120 million-year fossil discovered in northwest China and the results have given a previous and unknown species of what was already known of a microraptor.After this discovery, the researchers decided to baptize it with the name of a Chinese mytholog…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 84% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
