Jinfengopteryx
Jinfengopteryx was a small, feathered dinosaur that lived about 122 million years ago in what is now China. It had long tail feathers and may have been able to glide or fly short distances. Scientists are still debating whether it was a bird or a close cousin of birds.12
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Fun facts
Jinfengopteryx is known from a single nearly complete skeleton that includes impressions of feathers around its neck, body, hips, legs, and tail.1
Its tail feathers were long and vaned, getting longer toward the tip of the tail.1
Unlike some other feathered dinosaurs, Jinfengopteryx did not have flight feathers on its hind legs.1
The fossil of Jinfengopteryx contains several small, reddish-yellow oval structures that might be seeds it ate, or possibly eggs or follicles.1
Some scientists think Jinfengopteryx was a troodontid, a group of smart, bird-like dinosaurs, because of its enlarged claw on the second toe.1
A 2020 study found that Jinfengopteryx had flight abilities similar to other flying non-avian theropods like Microraptor.1
Jinfengopteryx lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 122 million years ago.1
Most asked questions about Jinfengopteryx
?Did Jinfengopteryx have feathers?
Yes, it had feathers around its neck, body, hips, legs, and tail, including long vaned tail feathers.1
?Could Jinfengopteryx fly?
A 2020 study found that its flight abilities were similar to other flying non-avian theropods like Microraptor, so it could probably glide or fly short distances.1
?What did Jinfengopteryx eat?
It may have been an omnivore. Its fossil contains small oval structures that could be seeds it ate, though they might also be eggs or follicles.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Jinfengopteryx is a true bird like Archaeopteryx.
Truth: Most scientists now think Jinfengopteryx was a troodontid dinosaur, not a bird, because of its skeleton and teeth.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Jinfengopteryx
- Named by
- Ji et al. 20056
- Group
- Raptors
- Family / clade
- Troodontidae6
- Classification
- Theropoda > Troodontidae6
- Age of the rocks
- 126 to 121 million years (Barremian)6
- Rock formations
- Huajiying6
- Countries
- China6
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database6
- Discovery
- Jinfengopteryx was named in 2005 by Ji Qiang and colleagues based on a nearly complete skeleton found in Hebei Province, China.12
- Still debated
- Scientists are not sure whether Jinfengopteryx was a bird (avialan) or a troodontid dinosaur. Different studies place it in different groups.13
Where the facts come from
- Jinfengopteryx (en.wikipedia.org)
- First avialian birdfrom China(Jinfengopteryx elegans gen. et sp. nov.) (dzhtb.cgs.cn)
- PBDB Taxon (paleobiodb.org)
- Matt Martyniuk: Jinfengopteryx (mpm.panaves.com)
- PaleoCodex :: Jinfengopteryx (paleocodex.com)
- Jinfengopteryx in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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