Open Paleo

Changyuraptor

Han et al., 2014 JYAHNG-yoo-RAP-tor

From Chinese 'chang' meaning 'long', 'yu' meaning 'feather', and Latin 'raptor' meaning 'thief' or 'seizer', referring to its long feathers.

125.8–121.4 million years ago Barremian, Early Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous stages

Changyuraptor is a genus of "four-winged", predatory dinosaurs. It is known from a single fossil specimen representing the species Changyuraptor yangi, which was discovered from Early Cretaceous (125 million year old) deposits in Liaoning Province, China. C. yangi belongs to the group of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs called the Microraptoria.

Diagnosis

  1. Forelimb proportionally much longer relative to hindlimb than in other microraptorines (forelimb 96% of hindlimb length including digits)
  2. Humerus much longer (420%) than ulna, as opposed to Microraptor zhaoianus in which these bones are more comparable in length
  3. Well-developed semi-lunate carpal covering all of proximal ends of metacarpals I and II, as opposed to the small semi-lunate carpal covering about half the base in most other microraptorines
  4. Fewer caudal vertebrae (estimated 22) than Microraptor zhaoianus (25-26) and Tianyuraptor ostromi (28)
  5. Rectrices significantly longer than in other microraptorines; constitute the longest feathers recorded in any non-avian theropod
  6. Midshaft of metatarsal IV significantly broader than that of metatarsal III or metatarsal II

Species

Changyuraptor yangi Han et al., 2014

Type species

Named for researcher Professor Yang Yandong.

Holotype
HG B016 , Paleontological Center of Bohai University
Material
Complete articulated specimen with extensive feathering, split in two slabs; determined to be an adult individual based on skeletochronology.
Horizon
Yixian Formation, Barremian, Early Cretaceous , 125.8–121.4 million years ago
Locality
Xijianchang, Liaoning, China

References

  1. Han, G.; Chiappe, L. M.; Ji, S. A.; Habib, M.; Turner, A. H.; Chinsamy, A.; Liu, X.; Han, L. (2014). A new raptorial dinosaur with exceptionally long feathering provides insights into dromaeosaurid flight performance. Nature Communications 5(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/ncomms5382 han2014b
  2. Jones, B. (2026). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods. Princeton University Press.

    Source of the hip height estimate, and the appearance features.

    jones2026c