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. In 2007, the type specimen was the largest known compsognathid exemplar, at in length. In 2012, an even larger specimen was reported.
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Discovery
- Description
- Classification
- Paleobiology
- Diet and feeding
- References
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. In 2007, the type specimen was the largest known compsognathid exemplar, at in length. In 2012, an even larger specimen was reported.
==Discovery== thumb|left|Assigned specimen CAGS-IG-T1 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, gigas, meaning 'giant'.