Sinocalliopteryx

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Learn more about Sinocalliopteryx

Quick Facts
Name	Sinocalliopteryx
Diet	Carnivore
Weight	20 kg
Length	2.37 meters
Height
Period	Early Cretaceous

Sinocalliopteryx was a genus of carnivorous compsognathid theropod dinosaurs that lived in the Cretaceous. It was found in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China. Its name means "beautiful Chinese feather".

It was a large bipedal dinosaur that weighed about twenty kilograms. It was known to be the largest genus of compsognathids. It had relatively long arms, and the hind limbs were also longer overall unlike other compsognathids, a feature possibly related to its size. It had an elongated head with a pointed snout and four premaxillary teeth that were small but exceptionally had denticles on their front edges. It had large ten centimeter long protofeathers spread over its body. It could mimic the forest floor for defensive purposes. Sinocalliopteryx was an active and agile carnivore that hunted flying prey despite being terrestrial.

Sinocalliopteryx was estimated to be 2.37 meters long.

What did Sinocalliopteryx eat?

Sinocalliopteryx was an active and agile carnivore that hunted flying prey despite being terrestrial.

What does Sinocalliopteryx mean?

The name Sinocalliopteryx means "beautiful Chinese feather".

When did Sinocalliopteryx live?

Sinocalliopteryx was a genus of carnivorous compsognathid theropod dinosaurs that lived in the Cretaceous period. It moved in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China.

Where did they live?

When did they live?

What was your diet?

Who discovered them?

What kind of dinosaurs are they?

What type of species are they?

How are they classified?

References

Ji, S., Ji, Q., Lu J., and Yuan, C. (2007). "A new giant compsognathid dinosaur with long filamentous integuments from Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern China." Acta Geologica Sinica, 81(1): 8-15.
Senter, Phil (2007). "A new look at the phylogeny of Coelurosauria (Dinosauria, Theropoda)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5 (4): 429-463. doi:10.1017/S1477201907002143.
Cristiano dal Sasso & Simone Maganuco, 2011, Scipionyx samniticus (Theropoda: Compsognathidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Italy - Osteology, ontogenetic assessment, phylogeny, soft tissue anatomy, taphonomy and palaeobiologyMemorie della Società Italiana de Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Memorie della Società Italiana de Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano. XXXVII(I): 1-281
Ostrom, J.H. (1978). "The osteology of Compsognathus longipes.". Zitteliana 4: 73-118.
Hurum, Jørn H.; Luo, Zhe-Xi & Kielan-Jaworowska, Zofia (2006): Were mammals originally venomous? Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51(1): 1-11.
de Klerk, W.J., Forster, C.A., Sampson, S.D., Chinsamy, A., and Ross, C.F. (2000). "A new coelurosaurian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of South Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(2): 324-332.
Zhonghe, Zhou, Barrett, Paul M., Hilton, Jason. (2003) "An exceptionally preserved Lower Cretaceous ecosystem." Nature. 421:807-811. 20 February 2003
Gu, Z.W. (1983) "On the boundary of non-marine Jurassic and Cretaceous in China" in: "Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Academica Sinica" "Stratigraphical Chart in China with Explanatory Text" Science Press, Beijing 1983:65-82.
Xu, X. and Norell, M.A. (2006). "Non-Avian dinosaur fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group of western Liaoning, China. "Geological Journal, 41: 419-437.

Fun Facts

Sinocalliopteryx was a genus of carnivorous compsognathic theropod dinosaur.
The name Sinocalliopteryx means "beautiful Chinese feather".
It was a large bipedal dinosaur.
Sinocalliopteryx was an active and agile carnivore.