Jinfengopteryx

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Jinfengopteryx ("golden phoenix") was a 55-cm-long theropod dinosaur. It was found in the Qiaotou Formation of Hebei Province, China, and is therefore of uncertain age - either Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous period. It had an enlarged claw on its second toe; this, and other skeletal features, indicate that it was a member of the Troodontidae. 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.

[edit] Specimens

Jinfengopteryx is known from one specimen, 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 later, it would support the hypothesis, based on tooth shape, that troodontids were herbivorous or omnivorous).

[edit] Taxonomy

The authors of the original description considered Jinfengopteryx to be the most basal avialan (bird). However, subsequent analysis of this dinosaur shows that has many features in common with the Troodontidae, 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.