Changyuraptor — artistic reconstruction

Cretaceous

Changyuraptor

Changyuraptor yangi

The catalogue presents Changyuraptor as a carnivore member of Microraptoria that lived during the Cretaceous, between 125.0–120.0 Ma. Its estimated range is 1.3 m in length and 4–5 kg in mass, giving a practical sense of scale. Reference material comes from Jiufotang Formation, Liaoning, China. Size and mass are approximations and may change with new fossils or methods.

Carnivore125.0–120.0 MaMicroraptoria

Evidence-backed summary

For Changyuraptor, the PBDB records the taxonomic attribution as Han et al. (2014).

The PBDB places it in Microraptorinae, and the catalogue record assigns it to the family Microraptoria.

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 HG B016 and the type locality as “Jiufotang Formation, Liaoning, China”.

  • HG B016
  • Jiufotang Formation, Liaoning, China

The catalogue's reference measurements are 1.3 m in length and 4–5 kg in mass — estimates, which vary with specimen and method.

  • 1.3 m
  • 4-5 kg

The record gathers 3 bibliographic references registered in the PBDB, listed below.

Records compiled on 2026-08-08

Where it lived

Fossil occurrences on today’s map and in the tectonic reconstruction.

Present-day map1 PBDB
Yixian
PBDB occurrences
Map at the time · ~125 Ma1 PBDB
Yixian
PBDB occurrences
Present mean latitude40.6° N
Reconstructed mean latitude40.4° N

Positions reconstructed by PBDB/GPlates, not observed; this is not an exact habitat map.

Paleobiology Database · GPlates · CC BY 4.0

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
1.3 m
Weight
4–5 kg
Period
Cretaceous
Time range
125.0–120.0 Ma

Discovery Information

First Discovery
2014
Described by
Turner et al.

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Saurischia
Family
Microraptoria
Genus
Changyuraptor
Species
C. yangi

Paleobiology Database · txn:299732

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
HG B016
Type locality
Jiufotang Formation, Liaoning, China