Changyuraptor
Largest four-winged dinosaur known from Early Cretaceous China.
Changyuraptor is a genus of four-winged, predatory dinosaurs known from a single fossil specimen representing the species Changyuraptor yangi. Discovered from Early Cretaceous (125 million year old) deposits in Liaoning Province, China, it belongs to the group of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs called the Microraptoria. At the time of its discovery, Changyuraptor was the largest four-winged dinosaur known and among the largest Mesozoic flying paravians, with volant true birds seldom approaching its size.
- Scientific Name
- Changyuraptor yangi
- Time Period
- Early Cretaceous (125 million years ago)
- Location
- Liaoning Province, China
- Length
- Approximately 1.2 meters (3.9 ft)
- Weight
- Estimated 4 kilograms (8.8 lb)
- Group
- Dromaeosaurid theropod (Microraptoria)
- Notable Feature
- Largest four-winged dinosaur known at discovery
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Changyuraptor
- Type Species
- Changyuraptor yangi
- Type Species Authority
- Han et al., 2014
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The fossil, holotype HG B016, was discovered by farmers near Xijianchang in the Yixian Formation of the Jehol Biota in Liaoning Province, China. From 2012 it was studied by an international team led by Dr. Luis Chiappe of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The holotype consists of a rather complete skeleton with skull, compressed on a plate and counterplate, showing extensive remains of pennaceous feathers. In 2014, the specimen was described as the new genus and species Changyuraptor yangi, with the generic name combining Chinese words for 'long feather' and Latin for 'robber', and the specific name honoring researcher Professor Yang Yandong.
Reader's Guide
Changyuraptor is significant for being the largest four-winged microraptorine known, exceeding previously known specimens in size by at least 60%. Its discovery challenged the hypothesis that miniaturization was an essential evolutionary step for flight, as its larger size and weight contradicted that idea. The dinosaur's long tail feathers, up to 29.27 centimeters, are thought to have helped provide softer and safer landings by controlling pitch, a feature useful for a heavier animal attaining faster gliding speed. Along with other microraptorines, Changyuraptor adds to evidence that dinosaurs evolved morphological features and behaviors such as feathers, hollow bones, nesting behavior, and possibly flight before they evolved in birds. Its presence in the Jehol Biota, alongside species like Yutyrannus, in a moist temperate forest with ginkgos and conifers, provides insight into the ecosystem of Early Cretaceous China.
Did You Know?
- Changyuraptor is known from a single fossil specimen representing the species Changyuraptor yangi.
- Its tail feathers measured up to 29.27 centimeters, equaling about 30% of the length of the animal's skeleton.
- At the time of its discovery, Changyuraptor was the largest four-winged dinosaur known.
- The generic name combines Chinese words for 'long feather' with Latin for 'robber'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Changyuraptor?
Changyuraptor is a small, four-winged predatory dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous, known from a single fossil specimen of the species Changyuraptor yangi. It lived roughly 125 million years ago in what is now Liaoning Province, China.
How big was Changyuraptor?
The animal measured about 1.2 meters (roughly 3.9 feet) in length and is estimated to have weighed around 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds). At the time of its discovery, it was recognized as the largest four-winged dinosaur known from that era.
What group does Changyuraptor belong to?
It is classified as a dromaeosaurid theropod within the subclade Microraptoria, the lineage of small, feathered, four-winged predators. This places it among the close relatives of other famous feathered raptors such as Microraptor.
Where and when was Changyuraptor discovered?
The fossil came from Early Cretaceous rock deposits in Liaoning Province, China, dating to approximately 125 million years ago. It was identified from a single specimen, making it a limited but notable find from that well-known feathered-dinosaur region.
Why is Changyuraptor important to paleontology?
It pushed the known size range of four-winged dinosaurs upward, demonstrating that these feathered fliers could be considerably larger than previously recognized. Its discovery broadened our understanding of how many Mesozoic paravian lineages evolved wing-like structures on both forelimbs and hindlimbs.
More in Feathered dinosaurs 1-24
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