Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Strong Primitive Archaeopter Protarchaeopteryx robusta<br />
Time: 124.5 Ma ago Location: Liaoning, China Habitat: Lower Yixian Formation (see<br />
above) Size: WS ~65cm (2ft); BL 55cm (1.8ft); TL 65cm (2ft) Features: Head short & high<br />
w/ rounded snout. Teeth numerous (up <strong>to</strong> 18 in both the upper & lower jaws). Upper front<br />
two teeth unusually large & chisel-shaped, giving a “buck <strong>to</strong>othed” appearance. Wings<br />
w/ large claws, but remiges unknown. Legs long. Tail frond small & square. Biology: The<br />
large, chisel shaped teeth indicate that these were probably specialized herbivores. The<br />
wings were relatively small, & the remix length unknown, but they may have at least allowed<br />
some limited parachuting ability, slowing descents on the rare occasions that they<br />
climbed or rested in trees (Chatterjee & Templin 2004). The contemporary species Incisivosaurus<br />
gauthieri, known from a complete skull, is probably a synonym.<br />
Zou’s Tail Feather Caudipteryx zoui<br />
Time: 124.5 Ma ago Location: Liaoning, China Habitat: Lower Yixian Formation (see<br />
above) Size: WS 70cm (2.2ft); BL 90cm (3ft); TL 1m (3.3ft) Features: Head triangular w/<br />
narrow, pointed snout. Teeth restricted <strong>to</strong> tip of upper jaw; lower jaw <strong>to</strong>othless. Upper<br />
front two teeth large. Wings very small & lacking secondary remiges. Minor digit highly<br />
reduced, lacking a claw & probably fused <strong>to</strong> major digit via soft tissue. Alular claw slightly<br />
smaller than major claw. Legs long. Tail very short, w/ rectrical frond limited <strong>to</strong> the final<br />
third of the tail length. All rectrices nearly equal in length, creating a square- or diamondshaped<br />
frond when seen from above. Biology: Presence of numerous small gizzard s<strong>to</strong>nes<br />
in some fossils indicates probable herbivorous diet. Tail frond light in color with a dense,<br />
dark b<strong>and</strong>ed pattern, suitable both for display <strong>and</strong> camouflage. Highly reduced wing feathers<br />
able <strong>to</strong> fold tightly against the body & may have also been used in display. Fossils of this<br />
species are common only in a relatively small region of the Yixian Formation, indicating<br />
very specific habitat preferences.<br />
Dong’s Tail Feather Caudipteryx dongi<br />
Time: 124.5 Ma ago Location: Liaoning, China Habitat: Lower Yixian Formation (see<br />
above) Size: WS 110cm (3.6ft); BL 75cm (2.5ft); TL 90cm (3ft) Features: Head long &<br />
relatively low & narrow, w/ teeth restricted <strong>to</strong> tip of upper jaw; lower jaw <strong>to</strong>othless. Upper<br />
front two teeth large. Neck long & slender w/ short feathers. Wings relatively large<br />
compared <strong>to</strong> <strong>other</strong> caudipterids. Secondary remiges long but restricted <strong>to</strong> the outer wing.<br />
Minor digit highly reduced, lacking a claw & probably fused <strong>to</strong> major digit via soft tissue.<br />
Biology: Similar <strong>to</strong> C. zoui, often considered synonymous. However, larger wings & presence<br />
of secondary remiges in a smaller specimen is opposite the growth pattern seen in<br />
Similicaudipteryx, so C. dongi may be a distinct species.<br />
56
Change language