Protarchaeopteryx

Taxobox
name = "Protarchaeopteryx"
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
ordo = Saurischia
subordo = Theropoda
infraordo = Oviraptorosauria
genus = "Protarchaeopteryx"
genus_authority = Ji & Ji, 1997
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "P. robusta" Ji & Ji, 1997 (type)

"Protarchaeopteryx" is a genus of turkey-sized feathered theropod dinosaur from China. Well-developed, vaned feathers extended from the short, stubby tail; the hands were long and slender, and had three-fingered clawed hands. It appears to be one of the most primitive members of the Oviraptorosauria and the large incisor teeth suggest that it is closely related to, or synonymous with, "Incisivosaurus". It was probably an herbivore or omnivore, although its hands were very similar to those of small carnivorous dinosaurs.

"Protarchaeopteryx", known from the Yixian Formation of China, lived in the Aptian age of the Early Cretaceous. It is probably more primitive than "Archaeopteryx", making it a non-avian theropod dinosaur rather than a true avian bird. It might have been larger than "Archaeopteryx". "Protarchaeopteryx" had symmetrical feathers on its arms. Since modern birds that have symmetrical feathers are flightless, and the skeletal structure of "Protarchaeopteryx" would not support flapping flight, it is assumed that "Protarchaeopteryx" was flightless as well.Ji, Q., and Ji, S. (1997). "A Chinese archaeopterygian, "Protarchaeopteryx" gen. nov." "Geological Science and Technology (Di Zhi Ke Ji)", 238: 38-41. Translated By Will Downs Bilby Research Center Northern Arizona University January, 2001]

References