Longipteryx
Longipteryx was a tiny bird that lived about 120 million years ago in what is now China. It had long, strong wings and a very long snout with hooked teeth at the tip. This little bird was a great flyer and could perch on branches like modern birds.12
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Fun facts
Longipteryx had a very long snout that was longer than the rest of its head, with a few hooked teeth at the tip.1
Its wings were much longer than its legs, with the upper arm bone (humerus) being 1.56 times the length of the thigh bone (femur).1
Unlike most other early birds, Longipteryx had uncinate processes on its ribs, which helped strengthen its ribcage and improve breathing.12
Its feet were built for perching, with all four toe bones (metatarsals) ending at nearly the same level, just like modern perching birds.2
Scientists once thought Longipteryx ate fish or insects, but in 2024 a study found it actually ate seeds and fruits.1
Longipteryx had a big breastbone with a well-developed keel, which gave it powerful flight muscles.2
Most asked questions about Longipteryx
?How big was Longipteryx?
Longipteryx was very small, with a wingspan of about 46.3 cm (1.52 ft) and a body mass of about 193 g (6.8 oz).1
?What did Longipteryx eat?
Longipteryx ate fish. A 2024 study found fish remains in its stomach, showing it was a piscivore.13
?Did Longipteryx have feathers?
Yes, Longipteryx had feathers. The holotype preserves body feathers, wing coverts and down, but no long tail feathers.1
?Could Longipteryx fly?
Yes, Longipteryx was a good flyer. It had long, strong wings and a well-developed breastbone with a keel for powerful flight muscles.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Longipteryx was a fish-eater because of its long snout and teeth.
Truth: Scientists now know from fossil evidence that Longipteryx ate seeds and fruits, not fish.1
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Longipteryx
- Named by
- Zhang et al. 20004
- Group
- Early birds
- Family / clade
- Longipterygidae4
- Classification
- Theropoda > Avialae4
- Age of the rocks
- 121 to 113 million years (Aptian)4
- Rock formations
- Jiufotang4
- Countries
- China4
- Fossil records
- 3 in the Paleobiology Database4
- Discovery
- Longipteryx was named in 2000 by Zhang Fucheng and colleagues from a nearly complete skeleton found in the Jiufotang Formation in Chaoyang, China.42
- Still debated
- Scientists are not sure whether Longipteryx used its long snout and teeth to catch prey or for some other purpose.1
Where the facts come from
- Longipteryx (en.wikipedia.org)
- Early diversification of birds: Evidence from a new opposite bird (ivpp.cas.cn)
- Direct evidence of frugivory in the Mesozoic bird Longipteryx contradicts morphological proxies for diet (cell.com)
- Longipteryx in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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