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Fun facts
Xixiasaurus had 22 teeth in its upper jaw, and they had no serrations, which is unusual for a meat-eating dinosaur.2
Its skull was almost complete when found, but the back part was missing.1
The only known fossil includes part of the right arm and hand, with a complete first finger.2
Scientists think Xixiasaurus was closely related to Byronosaurus, another troodontid from Mongolia.1
The age of the rocks where it was found is debated, with estimates ranging from about 100 to 72 million years old.1
Because its nasal bones were not fused, the only known Xixiasaurus might have been a young animal.1
Most asked questions about Xixiasaurus
?How big was Xixiasaurus?
Xixiasaurus was about 1.5 metres (5 ft) long and weighed around 8 kilograms (18 lb). That is about as long as a small bicycle and as heavy as a large cat.1
?What did Xixiasaurus eat?
Scientists think Xixiasaurus may have been herbivorous or omnivorous because its teeth lacked serrations and could not slice meat. It probably ate plants and maybe small animals.12
?Did Xixiasaurus have feathers?
Yes, Xixiasaurus probably had feathers. Other troodontid dinosaurs like Jianianhualong had pennaceous feathers, so Xixiasaurus was likely covered in feathers too.1
?When did Xixiasaurus live?
Xixiasaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 100 to 72 million years ago. The exact age of the rocks where it was found is still debated.1
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Myth buster
Myth: Xixiasaurus was a fierce meat-eater like other raptors.
Truth: Its teeth had no serrations, so scientists think it may have eaten plants or a mix of plants and meat.2
For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Xixiasaurus
- Named by
- Lü et al. 20103
- Group
- Raptors
- Family / clade
- Troodontidae3
- Classification
- Theropoda > Troodontidae3
- Age of the rocks
- 90 to 72 million years (Coniacian / Campanian)3
- Rock formations
- Majiacun3
- Countries
- China3
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database3
- Discovery
- The fossil was found in Xixia County, Henan Province, China, and named Xixiasaurus henanensis in 2010 by Lü and colleagues.1
- Still debated
- Scientists are not sure about the exact age of the Majiacun Formation where it was found, with different studies suggesting different ages.1
Where the facts come from
- Xixiasaurus (en.wikipedia.org)
- A new troodontid theropod from the Late Cretaceous of central China, and the radiation of Asian troodontids (app.pan.pl)
- Xixiasaurus in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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