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Microraptor
Click here for more Microraptor Pictures
Microraptor was a very small dinosaur that lived in
Northeast China
during the Cretaceous period,
about 120 million years ago.
The initial discovery and naming of Microraptor was somewhat controversial.
It was initially described based on a patchwork of unrelated dinosaur
fossils
that had been attached to each other (a "chimeric" specimen) to produce
a forgery, and this forgery had been smuggled from
China to the
United States.
It turned out however that within the forgery were the first
fossils
of Microraptor (other fossils have
subsequently been found).
Microraptor has feathers, and is unusual as it has flight feathers on both its arms/hands and
on its legs/feet (it also had feathers on its body, and a diamond-shaped group of feathers on
its tail). It is not entirely clear how it used these feathers, and scientists have debated
whether the animal parachuted from trees or was able to take off from groudn. What is
certain, is that in flight it would have used all four wings. We do not currently know
whether this is a side branch in the evolution of birds, or whether bird ancestors developed
flight through an early four-winged stage (as early as
1915 some paleontologists suggested that birds may have had yet-to-be-discovered four-winged ancestor,
which they named "Tetrapteryx").
Microraptor was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived about 120 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Microraptor Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Microraptor:
- Microraptor was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Microraptor" means "small thief".
- Microraptor was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Microraptor was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Microraptor was a Theropod - a member of a group of related bipedal dinosaurs that included the ancestors of birds (although Microraptor was not itself an ancestor of birds).
- Microraptor lived about 120 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period.
- Microraptor lived in Northeast China.
- Microraptor was a carnivore (meat-eater).
- Microraptor was about 1½ to 2¾ feet (46 to 84 centimeters) long.
- Microraptor weighed up to 2¼ pounds (1 kilogram).
Microraptor Toys
Here are some toys/games from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
Safari
Toy
 | List Price: $6.60*
Lowest New Price: $4.99*
*(As of 18:42 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - Safari Ltd. Carnegie Dinosaur collection
- Hand-painted, phthalate free, safety tested
Product Description:
Part of the Safari Ltd. Carnegie Museum Dinosaur collection, replicas researched and authenticated by the paleontologists of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each is either 1:20 or 1:40 scale. This Microraptor replica measures 9 inches long, 4 inches high. |
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Safari
Released: 2007-07-01
Toy
 | List Price: $10.99*
Lowest New Price: $8.70*
*(As of 18:42 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - Authenticated by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
- 5 language translations on all packaging
- Authentically detailed and intricately hand-finished with paint exceeding US and European lead safety standards.
Product Description:
6.5 inches long, 5.25 inches high |
|
Safari
Toy
 | Lowest New Price: $32.36*
*(As of 18:42 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | - Made with the Best Quality Material with your child in mind.
Product Description:
For over 25 years, Safari Ltd has been proud to provide this premier line of scale model, dinosaur collectibles. These award winning dinosaur replicas are authenticated by the paleontologists of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, who houses the largest collection of dinosaur fossils in the world. Each Carnegie dinosaur can have up to 25 steps of hand painting to ensure the highest quality in the world marketplace. The scale of these dinos are either 1:20 or 1:40. Detailed educational information in 5 languages are provided with each replica. All our products are phthalate-free and thoroughly safety tested to safeguard your child's health. Safari Ltd takes pride in providing breathtaking, innovative and value priced figures for now over 3 generations. Each January, Safari Ltd introduces 2 new Carnegie models to encourage the collectibility of such an intriguing line. Featured is our Carnegie Collection Microraptor Size: 9" L x 4" H (22.5 x 10 cm). Suggested age 3 and up |
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Microraptor Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By S. Perkins
Thomson Gale
Released: 2007-02-16
Digital (2 pages)
| List Price: $9.95*
Lowest New Price: $9.95*
Available for download now*
*(As of 18:42 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
This digital document is an article from Science News, published by Thomson Gale on January 27, 2007. The length of the article is 445 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Ancient glider: dinosaur took to the air in biplane style.(microraptor gui, flying dinosaur)
Author: S. Perkins
Publication: Science News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 27, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 171 Issue: 4 Page: 53(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale |
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