Anchiornis
Small four-winged paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of China.
Anchiornis is a genus of small, four-winged paravian dinosaurs known from a single species, *Anchiornis huxleyi*. Its name combines Greek for "near bird" with a tribute to Thomas Henry Huxley, an early advocate of the evolutionary link between birds and dinosaurs. All known fossils come from the Tiaojishan Formation in Liaoning, China, in rocks dating to the Late Jurassic, roughly 160 million years old. The first specimen, a partial skeleton lacking a skull, was described in 2009 by paleontologist Xu Xing and colleagues. A second, more complete fossil soon emerged, preserving long wing feathers on the arms, legs, and feet, confirming that *Anchiornis* was a four-winged dinosaur similar to *Microraptor*. Hundreds of specimens have since been identified, many held in museum collections such as the Shandong Tianyu Museum, which alone houses over 250 examples. One nearly complete skeleton, BMNHC PH828, preserved a feathered head crest and was used to reconstruct the animal’s full life coloration, making *Anchiornis* the first Mesozoic dinosaur for which almost the entire external appearance could be determined. Another specimen, YTGP-T5199, was studied for its feather microstructure and melanosomes, revealing color patterns that differed from the earlier reconstruction, raising questions about whether all specimens belong to the same species. *Anchiornis* was small, about the size of a crow, with a triangular skull, long arms, legs, and tail. Its body was covered in two types of downy feathers, while the wings, legs, and tail bore long, vaned feathers. Simple feathers also covered the head, neck, torso, and upper legs, and long crown feathers may have formed a crest. These fossils have become a crucial source of information on the early evolution of birds and the transition from dinosaur to bird body plans.
- species
- Anchiornis huxleyi
- location
- Tiaojishan Formation, Liaoning, China
- known_for
- First Mesozoic dinosaur with nearly complete life appearance determined; four-winged; feathered crest; color patterns studied
Lore & Background
It was studied and described by paleontologist Xu Xing and colleagues in a paper accepted to the Chinese Science Bulletin in 2009. The type specimen, catalogued as IVPP V14378, is an articulated skeleton missing the skull, part of the tail, and the right forelimb. The name Anchiornis huxleyi honors Thomas Henry Huxley, an early proponent of biological evolution and one of the first to propose a close evolutionary relationship between birds and dinosaurs. A second, more complete specimen was given to scientists from Shenyang Normal University by a local farmer, and was published on September 24, 2009, in the journal Nature. It preserved long wing feathers on the hands, arms, legs and feet, showing that Anchiornis was a four-winged dinosaur similar to Microraptor. Additional specimens, including a nearly complete skeleton with a feathered crest and evidence of life coloration, were reported in 2010 and later.
Reader's Guide
Anchiornis is significant as the first Mesozoic dinosaur for which almost the entire life appearance could be determined, thanks to exquisite preservation of feathers, skin, and muscle tissue in many specimens. Studies using laser fluorescence and melanosome analysis revealed its coloration and feather microstructure, showing it had a shaggy plumage with forked feathers, a feathered crest, and multi-layered wing coverts. Its wings were broadest in the middle and rounded, indicating poor aerodynamic ability. Anchiornis provides key insights into the early evolution of birds, including the transition from dinosaur to bird body plans, feather structure and function, and the development of four-winged gliding. The species also highlights the diversity of paravian dinosaurs in the Late Jurassic of China and the importance of the Tiaojishan Formation for understanding early avian evolution.
Did You Know?
- Anchiornis means 'near bird' in Greek, and its species name huxleyi honors Thomas Henry Huxley.
- It became the first Mesozoic dinosaur species for which almost the entire life appearance could be determined.
- Anchiornis had long wing feathers on both its arms and legs, making it a four-winged dinosaur.
- One study found that the coloration of a specimen (YTGP-T5199) differed from that reported for another specimen (BMNHC PH828), raising uncertainty about whether the latter is actually Anchiornis.
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