Protarchaeopteryx

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Protarchaeopteryx Fossil range: Early Cretaceous
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Saurischia Suborder: Theropoda Infraorder: Oviraptorosauria Genus: Protarchaeopteryx Species: P. robusta
Binomial name
Protarchaeopteryx robusta Q. Ji and S. Ji, 1997

Protarchaeopteryx was a turkey-sized feathered dinosaur from China. Well-developed, vaned feathers extended from the short, stubby tail; the hands were long and slender, and had three-fingered clawed hands. It appears to be one of the most primitive members of the Oviraptorosauria and the large incisor teeth suggest that it is closely related to, or synonymous with, Incisivosaurus. It was probably an herbivore or omnivore, but its hands are very similar to small carnivorous dinosaurs.

Protarchaeopteryx, known from the Yixian formation of China, lived in the Aptian age of the Early Cretaceous. It is probably more primitive than Archaeopteryx, making it a non-avian theropod dinosaur rather than a true avian bird. Protarchaeopteryx had symmetrical feathers on its arms. Since modern birds that have symmetrical feathers are flightless, and the skeletal structure of Protarchaeopteryx would not support flapping flight, it is assumed that Protarchaeopteryx was flightless as well.

[edit] References

• Qiang Ji and Shu'an Ji (1997) A Chinese archaeopterygian, Protarchaeopteryx gen. nov. by Geological Science and Technology (Di Zhi Ke Ji) Volume 238 pp. 38-41 Translated By Will Downs Bilby Research Center Northern Arizona University January, 2001