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Protarchaeopteryx (meaning "early ancient wing") was a feathered, meat-eating (theropod) dinosaur dating from the late Jurassic period to perhaps the early Cretaceous period, roughly 121-135 million years ago. The fossil was found near Yianxin, Liaoning Province, China, in sediment from an ancient lake bed. Protarchaeopteryx is more primitive than Archaeopteryx, the earliest-known bird.

In the chain of creatures leading from theropod (dromaeosaurid) dinosaurs to birds, Sinosauropteryx is the earliest bird-like dinosaur. For now, the chain includes (in chronological order):

• Archaeopteryx - The oldest known bird (150 mya) had asymmetrical feathers - it could probably fly short distances (from Germany).
• Sinosauropteryx - covered with proto-feathers and with short arms (121-135 million years ago).
• Protarchaeopteryx - Long, symmetrical feathers on arms and tail, but it probably could not fly (from China, 121-135 mya).
• Caudipteryx - a small, very fast runner covered with primitive (symmetrical and therefore flightless) feathers. (from China, 121-135 mya)
• Unenlagia - a much larger ground-dwelling theropod (from Argentina). It had flexible arm movement (up and down, like that of a bird) (90 mya).
• Velociraptor - a larger, ground-dwelling carnivore from Mongolia) with a swiveling wrist bone (this type of joint is also found in birds and is necessary for flight) (85 - 80 mya).
• Eoalulavis (from Spain) - the earliest bird that had good maneuverability while flying, even at low speeds (this extra flight control is obtained from a tuft of feathers on the thumb called the alula - it also helps in takeoffs and landings).

FEATHERS
Protarchaeopteryx had feathers covering its short arms, most of its body, and as a fan on its short tail. Its feathers were symmetrical, which indicated that it did not fly (modern-day flightless birds have symmetrical feathers; flying birds have asymmetrical ones). Protarchaeopteryx's feathers may have been used for insulation, retaining in its body heat.

ANATOMY
Protarchaeopteryx had long legs, short arms, and was about the size of a turkey, about 3 feet (1 m) tall. It lacked the typical long theropod tail but had a short, feathered tail.

BIRDS AND DINOSAURS
"For the first time we have something that is unquestionably a dinosaur with unquestionable feathers. So what we have is a missing link between meat-eating dinosaurs and the earliest bird,'' said Philip Currie of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, "This shows that dinosaurs are not extinct, but are well-represented by 10,000 species of birds." The existence of Sinosauropteryx and the dinosaur with even more feathers, Caudipteryx, lends credence to the theory the birds are descended from theropod dinosaurs and not from 4-legged arboreal (tree living) reptiles. There are, however, dissenting voices who point out that the new feathered fossils are from a time after that of Archaeopteryx, the first bird (which lived about 147 million years ago, before Caudipteryx and Protarchaeopteryx). This suggests that perhaps the fossils' resemblance to birds could be a case of convergent evolution and that their feathers evolved for insulation, not flight, indicating a warm-blooded physiology.

LOCOMOTION
Protarchaeopteryx did not fly, but ran on two long legs. It was probably a swift runner given its long legs and slight body.

OTHER FEATHERED DINOSAURS
Other Chinese feathered dinosaurs dating from between 145 and 125 million years ago (during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods) have been found in the same area of China. These fossils, the more advanced Sinosauropteryx prima and Caudipteryx zoui have features which are more dinosaur-like than bird-like, and are considered to be theropod dinosaurs. Their feathers were all symmetrical, which indicate that none of them could not fly. These other finds reinforce the theory that birds are descended from theropod dinosaurs.

FOSSILS
A fossilized Protarchaeopteryx was found in the sediment of an ancient lake bed in China's Liaoning Province (in northeastern China).


LINKS
Caudipteryx

Sinosauropteryx

An article about Caudipteryx and Protarchaeopteryx from National Geographic.

Feathered dinosaurs from ABC news with pictures.

Birds and dinosaurs from CNN.

Information Sheets About Dinosaurs (and Other Prehistoric Creatures)

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