In China, remains of a previously unknown four-winged dinosaur found
In China, paleontologists have described a new species of flying dinosaur — Norellraptor barsboldi. Its skeleton with well-preserved plumage was found in early Cretaceous deposits of the Jiufotang Formation in Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The age of these deposits is estimated to be 145–100 million years. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature.
Norellraptor barsboldi belonged to microraptors — a group of small predatory dinosaurs with four feathered limbs. They were close relatives of birds but are not considered their ancestors. The length of the found individual was about 57 centimeters. Based on bone structure, researchers suggest that the dinosaur was at least three years old at the time of its death.
The creature had sharp, curved teeth and claws. It likely hunted small animals — lizards, amphibians, and early mammals. The four feathered limbs likely allowed the dinosaur to glide after jumping from a height.
Researchers led by Andrea Cau from the OPHIS Paleontological Museum in Italy analyzed 194 anatomical changes that accumulated during the evolution of microraptors. About 30% of these traits later appeared in the evolutionary line of birds as well, but in both groups, they arose in a different sequence.
According to the study authors, this suggests that the ability to fly in microraptors and birds developed independently of each other under the influence of various factors of natural selection.
Paleontologist Scott Hartman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who was not involved in the study, suggests that microraptors might have combined gliding with wing flapping. Perhaps they jumped from hills or cliffs rather than climbing trees.
The study authors note that new fossils and data on their bone growth will help to more accurately understand how common this flight development scheme was among bird-like dinosaurs.
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