Protarchaeopteryx

*Protarchaeopteryx robusta*

***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 fingers with sharp, curved, claws. Its bones were hollow, and bird-like, and it possessed a wishbone. 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 Jianshangou bed of the Yixian Formation, lived in the early Aptian age of the Early Cretaceous, 124.6 million years ago. It is probably more primitive than *Archaeopteryx*, making it a non-avian theropod dinosaur rather than a true avian bird. At around 1 meter (3.3 ft) in length, it would 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 it was flightless as well.

## Description

*Protarchaeopteryx* had long legs, and could have been a quick runner. It had well-developed, vaned feathers extended from a relatively short tail; the hands were long and slender, and had three fingers with sharp, curved claws. Its bones were hollow and bird-like, and it possessed a wishbone. At around 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length, it would have been larger than *Archaeopteryx*. *Protarchaeopteryx* also had symmetrical feathers on its tail. Since modern birds that have symmetrical feathers are flightless, and the skeletal structure of *Protarchaeopteryx* would not support flapping flight, it is assumed that it was flightless as well. It has been suggested that it could have had an arboreal lifestyle, jumping from tree limbs and using its forelimbs for a form of parachuting.

## JPInstitute.com Description

Protarchaeopteryx was a small, feathered, bird-like dinosaur that lived in China. It was discovered in 1996 and it is the first dinosaur fossil to positively prove that some dinosaurs had feathers. The rock that holds the fossil shows many small details and the feathers are seen clearly. However, the type of feathers on this dinosaur are not the same kind seen on modern birds that fly. They are not flight feathers, so scientists think that these feathers were used to help keep the dinosaur warm or that they were used to help identify each other. This dinosaur is a member of the raptor family that includes Velociraptor.

Protarchaeopteryx is based on a remarkable fossil preserved in the fine-grained stone from Liaoning, China. It laid to rest the argument about dinosaurs being feathered. Now discussion has shifted to the type of feathers that were on the dinosaurs and when flight feathers evolved.

## Links

https://web.archive.org/web/20030405111427/http://www.jpinstitute.com/dinopedia/dinocards/dc\_prota.html

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:Cite book
2. ↑ Zhou, Z. (2006). "Evolutionary radiation of the Jehol Biota: chronological and ecological perspectives." *Geological Journal*, **41**: 377-393.
3. ↑ 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