Jinfengopteryx
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Extinct (fossil)
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| Jinfengopteryx elegans Ji et al., 2005 |
Jinfengopteryx (from Jinfeng, 'golden phoenix', the queen of birds in Chinese folklore, and Ancient Greek πτερυξ pteryx, meaning 'feather') is a genus of 55 cm (2 ft) long theropod dinosaur. It was found in the Qiaotou Formation of Hebei Province, China, and is therefore of uncertain age. The Qiaotou Formation underlies the more well-known Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, so the Qiaotou Formation is either Early Cretaceous or Late Jurassic. Jinfengopteryx was preserved with extensive impressions of pennaceous feathers, but it lacks flight feathers on its hind legs, which are present in related dinosaurs such as Microraptor and Pedopenna.[1]
Jinfengopteryx is known from one specimen (number CAGS-IG-04-0801), a nearly complete articulated skeleton with feather impressions. It also preserves several small, oval structures that are reddish yellow in color. These may be the remains of eggs, or nuts/seeds that the dinosaur had eaten (if the latter, it would support the hypothesis, based on tooth shape, that troodontids were herbivorous or omnivorous).
The authors of the original description considered Jinfengopteryx to be the most basal avialan (bird), and a member of the family Archaeopterygidae. However, subsequent analysis of this dinosaur shows that has many features in common with the Troodontidae (such as an enlarged claw on its short second toe), and it likely belongs to this group.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Ji, Q., Ji, S., Lu, J., You, H., Chen, W., Liu, Y., and Liu, Y. (2005). "First avialan bird from China (Jinfengopteryx elegans gen. et sp. nov.)." Geological Bulletin of China, 24(3): 197-205.
