Cretaceous
Caudipteryx
Caudipteryx zoui
The catalogue presents Caudipteryx as a omnivore member of Caudipteridae that lived during the Cretaceous, between 125.0–122.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 0.9–1.0 m in length and 3–5 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Yixian Formation, Liaoning, China. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.
Evidence-backed summary
For Caudipteryx, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Ji et al. (1998).
The PBDB places it in Oviraptorosauria, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Caudipteridae.
- PBDB · taxon.parent
- Caudipteridae
In the PBDB record, the reported stratigraphic range runs from the Barremian to the Aptian.
The PBDB catalogues 1 occurrence, with material from the Yixian Formation (1). Provenance: China.
The catalogue records the holotype as IVPP V12344 and the type locality as “Yixian Formation, Liaoning, China”.
- IVPP V12344
- Yixian Formation, Liaoning, China
The catalogue's reference measurements are 0.9–1.0 m in length and 3–5 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.
- 0.9-1.0 m
- 3-5 kg
The record gathers 21 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.
Where it lived
Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.
Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.
Artistic 3D reconstruction
There is no approved species-specific 3D model yet. Generic anatomy will not be presented as if it were evidence.
Physical Specifications
- Length
- 0.9–1.0 m
- Weight
- 3–5 kg
- Period
- Cretaceous
- Time range
- 125.0–122.0 Ma
Discovery Information
- First Discovery
- 1998
- Described by
- Ji Qiang et al.
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Saurischia
- Family
- Caudipteridae
- Genus
- Caudipteryx
- Species
- C. zoui
Data status
Taxonomic name matched to PBDB and checked on 2026-08-08.
Taxonomic linkage does not automatically validate size, mass, behaviour or appearance.
- Type specimen
- IVPP V12344
- Type locality
- Yixian Formation, Liaoning, China