Describer

Ji Qiang , Currie, Norell & Ji Shuan, 1998

Time

Cretaceous Early Barremian

Classification

Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Caudipteridae

Diet

Carnivore

Fossilsite

Yixian Formation of Liaoning, China

Fall Under

Caudipteryx

Length

0.9 meter

Info

Typespecies - Skull

Caudipteryx (Ji Qiang , Currie, Norell & Ji Shuan, 1998) > Caudipteryx zoui (Ji Qiang , Currie, Norell & Ji Shuan, 1998) > Caudipteryx dongi (Zhou & Wang, 2000)

Caudipteryx zoui, is a close relative of birds. Caudipteryx shows besides some diferences also many similaritys with the family oviratorosauridae. The hind legs are in both animals extremely long which can be seen as a indication that this where fast running animals.

According to Norell the fossils are considered theropod dinosaurs rather than true birds because they lack a number of features seen in Archaeopteryx and more advanced birds. He and his colleagues doubt that the creatures could fly because they had relatively short forelimbs, short feathers, and a body twice the size of Archaeopteryx. Whats more, their feathers had a symmetrical shape like that seen in flightless birds today.