A new raptorial dinosaur with exceptionally long
feathering provides insights into dromaeosaurid
flight performance (project)

Chiappe, M; Ji, J; Habib, H; Turner, H; Chinsamy, C; Liu, L; Han, H

doi:10.7934/p979

Cited by 1 publication

(6 citation statements)

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“…Both Wulong and S. "haoiana" have histological characteristics consistent with relatively slow growth, similar to other small dinosaurs and early birds such as Confuciusornis (Padian et al, 2004). The uniformity of bone tissue organization amongst the few sampled early dromaeosaurids (this study; Han et al, 2014) contrasts with the high histodiversity in closely related paravians (Prondvai et al, 2018). Further sampling will be required to assess the full histodiversity within Dromaeosauridae.…”

Section: Ontogenetic Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…There is little data on how extinct theropods may have used their tails and such an analysis is beyond the scope of the current study. Without the caudal fan found in Microraptor, isolated tail feathers could not assist with flight in the ways currently modeled for that taxon or for Changyuraptor (Han et al,2014), but this does not rule out other functions for the rectrices in Wulong.…”

Section: Plumagementioning

confidence: 93%

“…The tail feathers originate at about the twenty-seventh caudal vertebra. They extend caudally in two main strands; they do not splay out as in M. "gui" (IVPP V13352 and TNP 00996) or Changyuraptor (Han et al, 2014). There is no evidence of a fan-like structure as in Caudipteryx; the two rectrices in Wulong extend directly behind like those of a quetzal or Confuciusornis.…”

Section: Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Long tail feathers are found in several taxa within the Jehol Biota, including Confuciusornis, Microraptor (Li et al, 2012) and the larger Changyuraptor (Han, 2014). Feathers of similar length (>13.5 cm) are seen in another small theropod from the same general locality, BPM 1 3-13 (Norell et al, 2002).…”

Section: Plumagementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shangheshou, Chaoyang, Liaoning, China. Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation with a minimum age of 120.3 Ma (Zhou et al, 2003;He et al, 2004).…”

Section: Localitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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A new microraptorine theropod from the Jehol Biota and growth in early dromaeosaurids

Poust

Chunling²,

Varricchio

et al. 2020

The Anatomical Record

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Fossils from the Jehol Group (Early Cretaceous, Liaoning Province, China) are integral to our understanding of Paraves, the clade of dinosaurs grouping dromaeosaurids, troodontids, and avialians, including living birds. However, many taxa are represented by specimens of unclear ontogenetic age. Without a more thorough understanding of ontogeny, evolutionary relationships and significance of character states within paravian dinosaurs may be obscured and our ability to infer their biology restricted. We describe a complete specimen of a new microraptorine dromaeosaur, Wulong bohaiensis gen. et sp. nov., from the geologically young Jiufotang Formation (Aptian) that helps solve this problem. Phylogenetic analysis recovers the specimen within a monophyletic Microraptorinae. Preserved in articulation on a single slab, the type specimen is small and exhibits osteological markers of immaturity identified in other archosaurs, such as bone texture and lack of fusion. To contextualize this signal, we histologically sampled the tibia, fibula, and humerus and compared them with new samples from the closely related and osteologically mature Sinornithosaurus. Histology shows both specimens to be young and still growing at death, indicating an age for the new dinosaur of about 1 year. The holotype possesses several feather types, including filamentous feathers, pennaceous primaries, and long rectrices, establishing that their growth preceded skeletal maturity and full adult size in some dromaeosaurids. Comparison of histology in the new taxon and Sinornithosaurus indicates that macroscopic signs of maturity developed after the first year, but before cessation of growth, demonstrating that nonhistological indicators of adulthood may be misleading when applied to dromaeosaurids. Anat Rec, 303:963–987, 2020. © 2020 American Association for Anatomy

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Section: Ontogenetic Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Plumagementioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 97%