Tag Archive for 'Pennaraptora'

Changzhousaurus sinensis. Image credit: Connor Ashbridge / CC BY 4.0.

New Feathered Dinosaur from China Had Peacock-Like Tail

Jun 23, 2026 by Enrico de Lazaro

A new genus and species of four-winged pennaraptoran dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of northern China is adding another twist to the story of how birds...

This fossil of Anchiornis huxleyi exhibits nearly complete wings and preservation of feather coloration, allowing for a detailed identification of wing morphology. Image credit: Kiat et al., doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-09019-2.

Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils Shed Light on Evolution of Flight

Dec 18, 2025 by News Staff

Paleontologists have examined the 160-million-year-old fossils of Anchiornis huxleyi, a species of non-avian theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Tiaojishan...

This scene depicts an oviraptorid dinosaur called Citipati being startled while resting on a sand dune. The creature raises its arms in a threat display, which reveals its wrists, highlighting the small migrated pisiform carpal (blue X-ray view) bone. Image credit: Henry S. Sharpe.

Key Wrist Bone Appeared in Bird Ancestors Millions of Years Earlier than Previously Thought

Jul 14, 2025 by News Staff

A team of paleontologists from Yale University and Stony Brook University made this discovery after examining fossils from two species of bird-like dinosaurs...

Diversity of avian flush-pursuers, prey with simple neural escape pathways, and the Caudipteryx robot used in behavioral experiments. Image credit: Park et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-50225-x.

Small Feathered Dinosaurs Flapped Their Proto-Wings to Scare Hiding Prey: Study

Jan 29, 2024 by Enrico de Lazaro

Numerous non-avian dinosaurs possessed pennaceous feathers on their proto-wings and tail. Their functions remain unclear. Seoul National University researcher...

Primary sequential molt in Microraptor; the arrow indicates the location of the molt-related gap within the primary feathers. Scale bar - 10 cm. Image credit: Y. Kiat & J.K. O’Connor, doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-05048-x.

Rarity of Molt Evidence in Feathered Dinosaurs Suggests Annual Molt Evolved Later among Flying Birds

Jul 6, 2023 by Enrico de Lazaro

Feathers are a primitive trait among pennaraptoran dinosaurs, which today are represented by living birds, the only clade of dinosaurs to survive the end-Cretaceous...