Pedopenna

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Pedopenna ("foot feather") was a small maniraptoran dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Daohugou beds in China. The name refers to the long pennaceous feathers on the metatarsus; "daohugouensis" refers to the locality of Daohugou, where the holotype was found.

[edit] Paleobiology

Apart from having a very bird-like skeletal structure, Pedopenna was remarkable due to the presence of long pennaceous feathers on the metatarsus (foot). Some deinonychosaurs are also known to have these 'hind wings', but those of Pedopenna differ from those of animals like Microraptor. Pedopenna hind wings were smaller and more rounded in shape, and had symmetrical feathers, unlike the asymmetrical feathers of deinonychosaurs. Since asymmetrical feathers are typical of animals adapted to flying, it is likely that Pedopenna represents an early stage in the development of these structures, and likely couldn't fly, though the hind wings may have been useful in gliding. Its avian affinities are further evidence of the dinosaur-bird evolutionary relationship.

Pedopenna daohugouensis was probably a carnivore, preying on insects and small lizards and mammals. It was probably around 1 meter long, but since this species is only known from the hind legs, the actual length is difficult to determine.

[edit] Classification

Pedopenna daohugouensis is classified as a paravian, the group of maniraptoran dinosaurs that includes Aves and their closest relatives.

[edit] References

• Xu, Xing & Fucheng Zhang (2005). "A new maniraptoran dinosaur from China with long feathers on the metatarsus." Naturwissenschaften, 92(4): 173 - 177.