Daurlong
Dromaeosaurid dinosaur with preserved intestinal tract.
X. Wang, A. Cau, B. Guo, F. Ma, G. Qing, & Y. Liu · CC BY 4.0
Daurlong is a genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of China. Its name combines a reference to the Daur people with the Chinese word for "dragon." The only known species, *Daurlong wangi*, is based on a nearly complete skeleton. This fossil is notable for being the first example of a preserved intestinal tract found in a theropod closely related to birds.
The holotype specimen was discovered in the Longjiang Formation of Inner Mongolia, at a site dated to the Aptian stage. It includes a well-preserved skull and most of the skeleton, with a partial frog skeleton also present on the same slab. The species name honors Wang Junyou, director of the Inner Mongolia Museum of Natural History.
*Daurlong* was a medium-sized dromaeosaurid, roughly 1.5 meters long. Its skull is about 94 percent of the length of its thigh bone, and its forelimbs are less than 60 percent of the length of its hindlimbs. The fossil shows preserved plumage along the back of the skull, neck, and tail edges, but lacks the long wing and tail feathers seen in some relatives. A bluish layer within the ribcage matches the intestinal tract preserved in the dinosaur *Scipionyx*.
Phylogenetic analysis places *Daurlong* within the Dromaeosauridae, in a group that also includes *Tianyuraptor* and *Zhenyuanlong*.
- field
- Paleontology
- known_for
- First preserved intestinal region in a bird-related theropod
- time_period
- Lower Cretaceous (Aptian)
- location
- Longjiang Formation, Inner Mongolia, China
- size
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Daurlong
- Species
- wangi
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Daurlong holotype specimen, IMMNH-PV00731, was found in sediments of the Longjiang Formation (Pigeon Hill locality) of Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Inner Mongolia, China. This locality is dated to the Aptian age of the Early Cretaceous period. It consists of a nearly complete specimen of an individual, including a near-perfectly articulated skull. A partial anuran skeleton was also preserved on the holotype slab. In 2022, Daurlong wangi was described as a new genus and species of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs by Xuri Wang, Andrea Cau, Bin Guo, Feimin Ma, Gele Qing, and Yichuan Liu based on these remains. The generic name, 'Daurlong', combines a reference to the Daur Nation with the Chinese '龙' ('lóng'), meaning 'dragon.' The specific name, 'wangi', honors Wang Junyou, the director of the Inner Mongolia Museum of Natural History.
Reader's Guide
Daurlong is significant as the first dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Longjiang Formation and the first theropod closely related to birds to preserve an intestinal region, matching the bluish layer seen in the Scipionyx holotype. This discovery provides direct evidence of soft-tissue preservation in a non-avian theropod, offering insights into the anatomy of bird-line dinosaurs. The nearly complete skeleton, including a near-perfect skull and preserved plumage along the back of the skull, neck, and tail edges, helps clarify the morphology of mid-sized dromaeosaurids. Phylogenetic analyses place Daurlong in a clade with Tianyuraptor and Zhenyuanlong, refining understanding of dromaeosaurid relationships. Its size, intermediate between those two relatives, and the absence of pennaceous remiges and rectrices (as in Zhenyuanlong) contribute to debates on feather evolution. The specimen also includes a partial anuran skeleton on the same slab, indicating a shared ecosystem. Daurlong thus serves as a key reference for studying theropod soft tissues, feather distribution, and Cretaceous biodiversity in Inner Mongolia.
Did You Know?
- Daurlong is the first theropod closely related to birds with a preserved intestinal region.
- The holotype specimen includes a near-perfectly articulated skull and a partial anuran skeleton on the same slab.
- Daurlong was about 1.5 m long, 85% the size of the Tianyuraptor holotype.
- The bluish layer in its ribcage matches the intestinal tract seen in the Scipionyx holotype.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Daurlong?
Daurlong is a small dromaeosaurid theropod from the Early Cretaceous of China, represented by a single species, Daurlong wangi. It sits within the raptor family that also includes Velociraptor and other feathered predators.
What is Daurlong famous for?
Its holotype preserves a clearly identifiable section of gut tissue, making it the first known instance of an intestinal region fossilized in a theropod so closely tied to the bird lineage. That rare preservation gives researchers a direct window into the digestive anatomy of a feathered dinosaur.
Where and when did Daurlong live?
The skeleton was pulled from the Longjiang Formation in Inner Mongolia, China, and is dated to the Aptian stage of the Lower Cretaceous, placing it at roughly 125 million years ago.
How big was Daurlong?
At around 1.5 meters (about 4.9 feet) from snout to tail tip, Daurlong was a slender, cat-sized predator, much smaller than the larger dromaeosaurids people usually picture.
What does the name Daurlong mean?
The genus name pairs a reference to the Daur ethnic group of the region with the Chinese word for "dragon," while the species epithet wangi honors the Wang family.
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