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Compsognathid
Compsognathidae is a family of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs. Compsognathids were small carnivores, generally conservative in form, hailing from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. The bird-like features of these species, along with other dinosaurs such as ''Archaeopteryx'' inspired the idea for the connection between dinosaur reptiles and modern-day avian species. Compsognathid fossils preserve diverse integument — skin impressions are known from four genera commonly placed in the group, ''Compsognathus'', ''Sinosauropteryx'', '' Sinocalliopteryx'' and ''Juravenator''.Xu, Xing. "Palaeontology: Scales, feathers and dinosaurs." ''Nature'' 440.7082 (2006): 287-288. While the latter three show evidence of a covering of some of the earliest primitive feathers over much of the body, ''Juravenator'' and ''Compsognathus'' also show evidence of scales on the tail or hind legs. "Ubirajara jubatus", informally described in 2020, had elaborate integumentary structures on its back and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Scipionyx
''Scipionyx'' ( ) was a genus of theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Pietraroja Formation of Italy, around 113 mya (unit), million years ago. There is only one fossil known of ''Scipionyx'', discovered in 1981 by an amateur paleontologist and brought to the attention of science in 1993. In 1998 the type species ''Scipionyx samniticus'' was named, the generic name meaning "Scipio's claw". The find generated much publicity because of the unique preservation of large areas of petrified soft tissue and internal organs such as muscles and intestines. The fossil shows many details of these, even the internal structure of some muscle and bone cells. It was also the first dinosaur found in Italy. Because of the importance of the specimen, it has been intensely studied. The fossil is that of a juvenile that was most likely a baby only half a metre (twenty inches) long and perhaps just three days old. Its adult form and size is unknown. ''Scipionyx'' was a bipedal predator, its h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Sinocalliopteryx
''Sinocalliopteryx'' (meaning 'Chinese beautiful feather') is a genus of carnivorous coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China (Jianshangou Beds, dating to 124.6 Ma). While similar to the related ''Huaxiagnathus'', ''Sinocalliopteryx'' were larger. The type specimen, at 2.37 meters (7.78 ft) in length, in 2007 was the largest known compsognathid exemplar. In 2012 an even larger specimen was reported. Discovery The type species ''Sinocalliopteryx gigas'' was named and described in 2007 by Ji Shu'an, Ji Qiang, Lü Junchang and Yuan Chongxi. The generic name is derived from ''Sinae'', Latin for the Chinese and Greek καλός, ''kalos'', "beautiful", and πτέρυξ, ''pteryx'', "feather". The large size of this "giant compsognathid" lent ''Sinocalliopteryx'' its specific name (zoology), specific name, ''gigas'', meaning 'giant'.Ji, S., Ji, Q., Lu J., and Yuan, C. (2007). "A new giant compsognathid dinosaur with long filament ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Huaxiagnathus
''Huaxiagnathus'' is an extinct genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of China. The genus contains a single species, ''Huaxiagnathus orientalis'', known from two immature individuals from the Yixian Formation. ''Huaxiagnathus'' may represent an earlier ontogenetic stage of the tyrannosauroid ''Sinotyrannus'' from the younger Jiufotang Formation. Etymology The name ''Huaxiagnathus'' is derived from the Chinese '' Hua Xia'', 華夏, a traditional word for "China", and from the Greek ''gnathos'', Latinised into ''gnathus'', meaning "jaw." Description The holotype (CAGS-IG-02-301, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing) specimen was collected from the Yixian Formation (Barremian stage, ) at Dabangou Village, Sihetun area, near Beipiao City, in western Liaoning Province. The holotype is a subadult and consists of an essentially complete skeleton, lacking only the end of the tail, preserved on five large slabs. Partially digested bones of an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Sinosauropteryx
''Sinosauropteryx'' (meaning "Chinese reptilian wing") is an extinct genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs. Described in 1996, it was the first dinosaur taxon outside of Avialae (birds and their immediate relatives) to be found with evidence of feathers. It was covered with a coat of very simple filament-like feathers. Structures that indicate the colour pattern have also been preserved in some of its feathers, which show that ''Sinosauropteryx'' had a countershading pattern in its body with a banded tail. The reddish brown colouration previously inferred for ''Sinosauropteryx'' is based on the melanosomes preserved in the specimen of a separate genus, '' Huadanosaurus''. Some contention has arisen with an alternative interpretation of the filamentous impression as remains of collagen fibres, but this has not been widely accepted. ''Sinosauropteryx'' was a small theropod with an unusually long tail and short arms. The longest known specimen reaches up to in length, with an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Juravenator
''Juravenator'' is a genus of small (75 cm long) coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur (although a 2020 study proposed it to be a hatchling megalosauroid), which lived about 151 or 152 million years ago in the area that would someday become the top of the Franconian Jura of Germany ( Torleite Formation). It is known from a single, juvenile specimen. Description ''Juravenator'' was a small bipedal predator. The holotype of ''Juravenator'' represents a juvenile individual, about seventy-five centimetres in length. In 2006 and 2010 Göhlich established some diagnostic traits. The four teeth of the premaxilla in the front of the snout had serrations on the upper third of the back edge of the tooth crown. Between the tooth row of the premaxilla and that of the maxilla there was no hiatus. The maxillary teeth were few in number, eight with the holotype. The depression or ''fossa'' for the large skull opening, the ''fenestra antorbitalis'', was long and extended far to the front. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Mirischia
''Mirischia'' is an extinct genus of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaur from the Albian Stage (stratigraphy), stage (Early Cretaceous Geological period, Period) of Brazil. Discovery and naming In 2000 David Martill and Eberhard Frey reported the find of a small dinosaur fossil present in a chalk nodule, illegally acquired by the German Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe from an illegal Brazilian fossil dealer who had indicated the piece had been uncovered in the Chapada do Araripe, specifically at Araripina, Pernambuco. In 2004 the type species ''Mirischia asymmetrica'' was named and described by Martill, Frey and Darren Naish. The generic name combines the Latin ''mirus'', 'wonderful', with "ischia", the Latinised plural of Ancient Greek, Greek ἴσχιον, ''ischion'', 'hip joint'. The specific name (zoology), specific name ''asymmetrica'' refers to the fact that in the specimen the left ischium differs from its right counterpart. The holotype, SMNK 2349 PAL, has its ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Compsognathus Longipes
''Compsognathus'' (; Greek ''kompsos''/κομψός; "elegant", "refined" or "dainty", and ''gnathos''/γνάθος; "jaw") is a genus of small, bipedal, carnivorous theropod dinosaur. Members of its single species ''Compsognathus longipes'' could grow to around the size of a chicken. They lived about 150 million years ago, during the Tithonian age of the late Jurassic period, in what is now Europe. Paleontologists have found two well-preserved fossils, one in Germany in the 1850s and the second in France more than a century later. Today, ''C. longipes'' is the only recognized species, although the French specimen was once thought to belong to a separate species named ''C. corallestris''. Many presentations still describe ''Compsognathus'' as "chicken-sized" dinosaurs because of the size of the German specimen, which is now believed to be a juvenile. ''Compsognathus longipes'' is one of the few dinosaur species whose diet is known with certainty: the remains of small, agi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Compsognathus
''Compsognathus'' (; Ancient Greek, Greek ''kompsos''/κομψός; "elegant", "refined" or "dainty", and ''gnathos''/γνάθος; "jaw") is a genus of small, bipedalism, bipedal, carnivore, carnivorous theropoda, theropod dinosaur. Members of its single species ''Compsognathus longipes'' could grow to around the size of a chicken (bird), chicken. They lived about 150 mya (unit), million years ago, during the Tithonian Stage (stratigraphy), age of the late Jurassic Period (geology), period, in what is now Europe. Paleontologists have found two well-preserved fossils, one in Germany in the 1850s and the second in France more than a century later. Today, ''C. longipes'' is the only recognized species, although the French specimen was once thought to belong to a separate species named ''C. corallestris''. Many presentations still describe ''Compsognathus'' as "chicken-sized" dinosaurs because of the size of the German specimen, which is now believed to be a juvenile. ''Comps ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Xunmenglong
''Xunmenglong'' (from ) is a genus of compsognathid theropod dinosaur from the Huajiying Formation from Hebei Province in China. The type and only species is ''Xunmenglong yinliangis''. The holotype material consists of a pelvis, tail base and hindlimbs that had previously been part of a chimera containing three different animals. The animal is described as being the smallest known member of Compsognathidae, being about the size of the sub-adult ''Scipionyx'' holotype specimen or approximately 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) in length. Classification In the original description, ''Xunmenglong'' is recovered as a compsognathid in a polytomy including ''Compsognathus'', ''Huaxiagnathus'' and ''Juravenator''. However, Andrea Cau (2024) recovered ''Xunmenglong'' not as a compsognathid, but instead as a basal member of Tetanurae Tetanurae (/ˌtɛtəˈnjuːriː/ or "stiff tails") is a clade that includes most Theropoda, theropod dinosaurs, including Megalosauroidea, megalosauroids, Allosaur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Beipiaognathus
''Beipiaognathus'' (meaning Beipiao jaw) is a dubious genus of coelurosaurian theropod from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China. The type species is ''Beipiaognathus jii'' and it was named and described by Hu ''et al.'' in 2016. The genus was initially assigned to the Compsognathidae by Hu ''et al.'' (2016) based on the presence of two traits: fan-shaped dorsal neural spines and a robust I-1 phalanx on the hand. However, it also differs from other compsognathids in several ways: the teeth are unserrated and conical; the ulna is proportionally longer; the II-1 phalanx on the hand is longer and more robust; and the tail is much shorter. However, Andrea Cau informally noted a number of points in the fossil that are indicative of it having been artificially assembled, thus rendering the specimen a phylogenetically uninformative chimaera. Additionally, he argued that the characters cited are not unique to compsognathids, with fan-shaped neural spines being also s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Ubirajara Jubatus
"''Ubirajara''" ("lord of the spear") is an informal genus of compsognathid theropod that lived during the early Cretaceous period in what is now Brazil. The manuscript describing it was available online pre-publication but was never formally published and, as a consequence, both genus and species name are considered invalid and unavailable. It is known by a single species, "''Ubirajara jubatus''", recovered from the Crato Formation. It was described as the first Gondwanan non-avian theropod dinosaur discovered with preserved integumentary structures. Such proto-feathers, most likely used for display, include slender monofilaments associated with the base of the neck, increasing in length along the dorsal thoracic region, where they would form a mane, as well as a pair of elongate, ribbon-like structures likely emerging from its shoulders. The taxon was informally named in 2020 in a now- withdrawn ''in-press'' academic paper. The description caused controversy due to the fossil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Haplocheirus
''Haplocheirus'' (, meaning "simple hand") is an extinct genus of theropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Shishugou Formation of Xinjiang in China. It is generally considered to be an alvarezsauroid, although some researchers have questioned this assignment. The genus contains a single species, ''H. sollers'', which is known from a mostly complete skeleton including the skull. The quality of the preservation in the only known specimen of ''Haplocheirus'' is near-perfect and preserves the animal in three dimensions. This makes ''Haplocheirus'' one of the most well-known Jurassic coelurosaurs from anywhere in the world. The specimen has been relatively well-studied in comparison with other comparable taxa like '' Zuolong'' or '' Guanlong'', which has allowed researchers to gain insights into the evolution of maniraptorans as well as the sensory capabilities, diet, and ontogeny of primitive coelurosaurs. Discovery The type and only specimen of ''Haplocheirus'' was given t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
