[D] Sinocalliopteryx gigas [sG] [T]
Describer
Ji, Ji, Lü, and Yuan 2007
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Compsognathidae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Yixian Formation, Hengdaozi at the Sihetun area of Beipiao western Liaoning, China
Length
2,37 m.
Info
Holotype
JMP-V-05-8-01 (Jinzhou Museum of Paleontology, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province) a very complete and excellently-preserved skeleton with long filamentous integuments only on one slab.
Etymology
Sino, an acient name for China; callio (Greek), beautiful; pteryx (Greek) feather, and gigas (Greek) giant.
A very large compsognathid (2.37 m long) with 49 caudal vertebrae. Differing from other compsognathids (but sharing the similar features with Huaxiagnathus orientalis in having a manus as long as the humerus plus radius, very large and subequally long manual unguals I and II, smaller proximal transverse width of the first metacarpal, and reduced olecranon process on the ulna.
Distinguisable from Huaxuagnathus in having the much larger size, a long maxillary antorbital fossa, the proportionally longer ulna (length ratio of humerus to ulna is 114%, compared with 160% in Huaxuagnathus), the preacetabular wing of ilium bending downwards at its anteroventral margin, and the distally unfused ischia.
Sinocalliopteryx gigas gen. et sp. nov., represents the largest species among the known compsognathid dinosaurs, suggesting the tendency of the body enlargement in compsognathids to some extent. The long filamentous integuments are attached to the whole body of the compsognathid, confirming that such integuments evolved firstly in the basal coelurosaurs.
This new giant compsognathid was a fierce carnivorous theropod, as shown further by the incomplete leg inside its abdominal cavity.
Ji, Ji, Lü, and Yuan 2007
Time
Cretaceous Early
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Compsognathidae
Diet
Carnivore
Fossilsite
Yixian Formation, Hengdaozi at the Sihetun area of Beipiao western Liaoning, China
Length
2,37 m.
Info
Holotype
JMP-V-05-8-01 (Jinzhou Museum of Paleontology, Jinzhou, Liaoning Province) a very complete and excellently-preserved skeleton with long filamentous integuments only on one slab.
Etymology
Sino, an acient name for China; callio (Greek), beautiful; pteryx (Greek) feather, and gigas (Greek) giant.
A very large compsognathid (2.37 m long) with 49 caudal vertebrae. Differing from other compsognathids (but sharing the similar features with Huaxiagnathus orientalis in having a manus as long as the humerus plus radius, very large and subequally long manual unguals I and II, smaller proximal transverse width of the first metacarpal, and reduced olecranon process on the ulna.
Distinguisable from Huaxuagnathus in having the much larger size, a long maxillary antorbital fossa, the proportionally longer ulna (length ratio of humerus to ulna is 114%, compared with 160% in Huaxuagnathus), the preacetabular wing of ilium bending downwards at its anteroventral margin, and the distally unfused ischia.
Sinocalliopteryx gigas gen. et sp. nov., represents the largest species among the known compsognathid dinosaurs, suggesting the tendency of the body enlargement in compsognathids to some extent. The long filamentous integuments are attached to the whole body of the compsognathid, confirming that such integuments evolved firstly in the basal coelurosaurs.
This new giant compsognathid was a fierce carnivorous theropod, as shown further by the incomplete leg inside its abdominal cavity.