Anchiornis was a small dinosaur that lived in China during the late
Jurassic period,
between about 160 and 155 million years ago.
Anchionris was very small, and had a total length of around 13 inches (34 centimeters). It is believed
to have only weighed about 4 ounches (110 grams).
Both of the first two
fossil
specimens of Anchionris that were discovered show definite evidence of
the animal having borne feathers. While the first specimen preserved only
faint traces of these feathers, the second specimen discovered showed a much
better impression of feathers, even with sufficient detail for scientists to study the number
and location of individual feathers. As a result, scientists now know that
Anchiornis had flight feathers on both its front and hind limbs. Additionally,
we know that feet of Anchiornis (except the claws) were also covered with feathers,
and that the head, neck, torso, and first part of the tail were covered wth downy
feathers, and the rear of the tail bore tail feathers ("rectrices").
It has been suggested that the Anchiornis
might have been able to fly or glide. The main reasons for this suggestion are
that Anchiornis had a particularly bird-like wrist, and that it also had relatively long front
limbs. Additionally, since Anchiornis had relatively short hind limbs, it does not seem
to have been well adapted to a fast-running lifestyle.
"Anchiornis" means "near bird", and was chosen because the animal's body plan has a number of bird-like features.
Anchiornis was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Anchiornis was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
Anchiornis was a Theropod - a member of a group of related bipedal dinosaurs that included the ancestors of birds (although Anchiornis was not itself an ancestor of birds).
Anchiornis lived between about 160 million years ago and 155 million years ago, during the Jurassic period.
Anchiornis was about 13 inches (34 centimeters) long.
Anchiornis weighed about 4 ounces (110 grams).
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