Caudipteryx
Caudipteryx zoui
Caudipteryx (meaning "tail feather") is a genus of small oviraptorosaurian dinosaurs that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous, around 124.6 million years ago. They were feathered and extremely bird-like in their overall appearance, to the point that some paleontologists suggested it was a bird. Two species have been described: C. zoui (the type species), in 1998, and C. dongi, in 2000. Caudipteryx had a stout trunk, long legs, and was probably a swift runner. Its discovery has led to many intensive studies and debate over the relationship between birds and dinosaurs.
- Family
- Caudipteridae
- Order
- Saurischia
- Period
- Cretaceous (125.0–122.0 Ma)
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Length
- 0.9–1.0 m
- Weight
- 3–5 kg
- Type locality
- Yixian Formation, Liaoning, China
- Holotype
- IVPP V12344
- PBDB
- txn:66065