Microraptor

## Diet

 Insects

Microraptor is a small genus of four winged dromaeosaur from Asia during the early Cretaceous. Microraptor consists of three species, *M. zhaoianus*, *M. gui*, and *M. hanqingi*, with only *M. gui* appearing in Prehistoric Kingdom.

## In-Game

### Description

A small animal, similar in size to many modern day birds, Microraptor truly lives up to its name. Covered in jet-black feathers resembling a bower bird or crow, Microraptor is capable of powered flight using its wings while also being a skilled glider due to a pair of hind-wings on its back legs. Comparable to other dromaeosaurs like Velociraptor, Microraptor even comes equipped with a miniature sickle claw common among its relatives, despite its size. Unlike modern birds, Microraptor demonstrates its roots as a proper non-avian dinosaur through its maw of small needle sharp teeth, clawed wings, and a long boney tail adorned with a small tail fan.

### Management

Microraptor is a Mini-Exhibit animal that does not have the ability to free roam inside of normal exhibits and must be placed inside of a Mini-Aviary instead. Microraptor are bred directly from the Mini-Aviary's menu rather than through the genetics lab.

### In-Game Trivia

"*This handsome little fella is one of my personal favorites - the Microraptor!*"

"*I've always wanted to hand-feed one, but I don't want to chance one of these feisty creatures mistaking my finger for a tasty lizard. Actually, I just need my old falconry gloves…*"

"*Those tufts on its hind legs are not stylish trousers, they're actually flight feathers! With four wings full of delicate but vital flight feathers, these creatures have to be careful not to drag them on the ground and cause permanent damage.*"

"*That beautiful iridescent color of its feathers isn't actually pigment! It's a structural color, which means that the structure of the feather itself reflects light in such a way that it's perceived as a color. Hummingbirds do the same thing today!*"

## Paleontology

When first discovered, Microraptor was originally thought to have not been able to use powered flight and instead was thought to glide between trees. We now know it was in fact more than capable of powered flight, however it could likely still glide, just as most modern birds can. It is unlikely that Microraptor could move quickly on the ground due to the build of its limbs and so would have spent most of its time in trees. At 77 centimetres long and with a wingspan of a meter, Microraptor is one of the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs. It was a carnivorous animal which ate small mammals, lizards and birds, swallowing prey whole and producing pellets like modern day owls. Microraptor has been found in two fossil formations, the Jiufotang and Yixian formations, both in Liaoning in northeast China. Here it lived alongside a dazzling variety of animals, including various early birds, pterosaurs and various other dinosaurs, including Psittacosaurus. Many other genus of Microraptoria lived alongside Microraptor, such as Changyuraptor, Wulong and Tianyuraptor. These animals varied in size and shape, suggesting they occupied different ecological niches.

Microraptor was named in 2000 by palaeontologist Xu Xing and its name means "small thief". Microraptor had a troubled discovery. The first specimen was part of a chimera fossil which had been made up of three specimens; the tail of Microraptor, the head and upper body of a primitive bird called Yanornis and the legs and feed of a yet unknown animal. The doctored fossil was named 'Archaeoraptor' and smuggled out of China to the USA in 1999 and presented as a 'missing link' between dinosaurs and birds. Its announcement had caused doubts in the paleontological society, but it was not until 2002, three years after its discovery and two years after Microraptor had been named, that serious study was conducted on the fossil. The scandal brought attention to the illegal fossil market in China and the doctoring of fossils to make them appear more impressive, a similar fate that befell the Brazilian spinosaurid Irritator.

## Gallery

* Photos
* Renders
* Videos

Microraptor in the Mini-Aviary.Microraptor clutching to a tree.Microraptor perched on a tree branch.A flock of Microraptors perched in a Mini-Aviary.A flock of Microraptors in a Mini-Aviary.Microraptor in an open Tropical Mini-Aviary, with Scrubland foliage surrounding it, as seen from the guest path.A perched Microraptor looking at the ground."Macroraptor", an April Fool's Day 2021 joke.

Website Render.

Microraptor HopMicroraptor hopping towards a tree within the Mini-Aviary.Prehistoric Kingdom- Microraptor Early LookVideo showing Microraptor audio and animations.
## Trivia

* Microraptor was one of the dinosaurs available in Prehistoric Kingdom’s alpha.
* Microraptor is the smallest animal in Prehistoric Kingdom so far.
* Microraptor was the first Mini-Exhibit animal confirmed for Prehistoric Kingdom, It was confirmed during the same announcement trailer as Deinocheirus and Nasutoceratops
* Microraptor is one of two flying animals in Prehistoric Kingdom, the second is the Archaeopteryx.
* The iridescent black skin chosen for Microraptor in Prehistoric Kingdom is more than just for style and glamour. A 2012 study on preserved Microraptor melanosomes shows that it in fact did have this color scheme in life.
* On April Fool's Day 2021, the official Prehistoric Kingdom Twitter account posted a photo of "Macroraptor", a greatly upscaled version of *Microraptor*. It was humorously said to be unlocked by renaming a Mini-Aviary to "gullible".