New Four-Winged Dinosaur Species Discovered in Northwestern China

A groundbreaking fossil discovery has revealed a new species of microraptor, named Jianchangmaensis, that lived 120 million years ago in what is now northwestern China.

Discovery Details

The fossil was unearthed in the Changma Basin in Gansu Province, northwestern China. It represents the only definitive microraptor specimen ever found outside northeastern China, significantly expanding the known range of these feathered dinosaurs.

The species name honors the Changma Basin, with "Jian" referencing a one-winged bird from Chinese mythology. The dinosaur was approximately the size of a barn owl, and the fossil includes exceptionally well-preserved shoulder and forelimb bones in three dimensions.

Anatomy and Classification

Scientists identified the fossil as a microraptor based on a distinctive feature in the coracoid bone called the supracoracoid fenestra—a large hole present in all microraptors but rare in other creatures.

Microraptors were feathered dinosaurs with long feathers on both arms and hind legs, giving them four wings. They are not birds, but are closely related to early bird ancestors like Archaeopteryx.

Significance of the Find

This discovery expands both the known geographical range and temporal range of microraptors. The three-dimensional preservation allows for superior study of shoulder structure, which may provide crucial clues about the evolution of flight in feathered dinosaurs.

The specimen suggests that microraptors lived in the Changma Basin ecosystem, where many bird fossils have been found. Previous microraptor fossils have been discovered with bird bones inside their rib cages, indicating they preyed on birds.

Expert Reactions

"This fossil provides critical new information on the biological history of the Changma region and the ecological context of the ancestors of today's birds."
— Dr. Matt Lamanna, study coauthor and senior dinosaur researcher, Carnegie Museum of Natural History

"It's a new fossil of those dinosaurs that were basically on the cusp of becoming true birds."
— Steve Brusatte, professor of paleontology and evolution, University of Edinburgh

"This fossil expands the geographic range and helps show the diversity in anatomy of this group."
— T. Alexander Dececchi, assistant professor, Dakota State University

Background and Context

The Changma Basin was an ancient lake environment. Researchers have recovered over one hundred bird fossils there, but only this single non-avian dinosaur specimen. Study coauthor Jingmai O'Connor noted that bone wads found in the basin resemble pellets regurgitated by owls.

Next Steps

Researchers plan to scan the wing fossil to further study the flight or gliding capabilities of microraptors, aiming to better understand how these remarkable creatures moved through the ancient skies.