50cm Small Carnivorous Dinosaur Confirmed in Canada
2009-03-31
A fossil found in Alberta, Canada, has been identified as belonging to a small carnivorous dinosaur weighing 2 kg.
This dinosaur, which lived about 75 million years ago (Late Cretaceous), is thought to have run on two legs through forests and wetlands, eating insects and small mammals.
When it was excavated in 1982, it was thought to be a "juvenile dinosaur" due to its size, but this time, an examination of the pelvic condition revealed that it was a "50cm small carnivorous dinosaur (an adult)."
This dinosaur has been named "Hesperonychus."
New Feathered Dinosaur, Tianyulong, Discovered in China - First for Ornithischia
2009-03-31
A fossil found in Alberta, Canada, has been identified as belonging to a small carnivorous dinosaur weighing 2 kg.
This dinosaur, which lived about 75 million years ago (Late Cretaceous), is thought to have run on two legs through forests and wetlands, eating insects and small mammals.
When it was excavated in 1982, it was thought to be a "juvenile dinosaur" due to its size, but this time, an examination of the pelvic condition revealed that it was a "50cm small carnivorous dinosaur (an adult)."
This dinosaur has been named "Hesperonychus."
Small Tyrannosaurus Ancestor, Raptorex, Discovered in Early Cretaceous, China
2009-09-20
A new species of dinosaur, about 3 meters long and estimated to weigh about 65 kg, has been discovered in the Early Cretaceous strata (about 125 million years ago) of northeastern China.
Although much smaller than the Late Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago) Tyrannosaurus (13m long, estimated weight 5-6t), it fully possesses the characteristics of the "tyrant" Tyrannosaurus, such as "sharp teeth," "short forelimbs," and a "powerful jaw."
This new species of dinosaur has been named "Raptorex" (king of thieves).
It is considered an ancestor of Tyrannosaurus, and it has been found that "the relatives of Tyrannosaurus already possessed short forelimbs and a powerful jaw before they became large."
Fossil of Feathered Dinosaur Older than Archaeopteryx Discovered in Late Jurassic, China
2009-09-29
A fossil of a small dinosaur with long flight feathers on its front and hind legs has been discovered in the Late Jurassic strata (about 161 million to 151 million years ago) of northeastern China.
This is the oldest complete skeleton of a feathered dinosaur found to date. It is about 50 cm long and is considered a member of the theropod troodontid family.
Currently, dinosaurs are considered the direct ancestors of birds.
The earliest bird, "Archaeopteryx," lived in the Late Jurassic (151 million years ago), but feathered dinosaurs had only been found in strata from the Early Cretaceous and later. Therefore, the evolutionary process from dinosaurs to birds remained unknown.
This time, the "excavation of a feathered dinosaur in a stratum older than Archaeopteryx" has become an important discovery that explains the evolutionary process.