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Sinosauropteryx
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Sinosauropteryx was a small carnivore (meat-eater) dinosaur that lived in
China during the early
Cretaceous period,
between about 125 and 122 million years ago.
Sinosauropteryx was about 3¼ to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters) long - most of its length
being taken up by its extremely long tail. It is estimated to have weighed around 5½ pounds (2.5 kilograms).
Fossils of
Sinosauropteryx show had a covering of what look like down-like feathers.
The usual interpretation is that these are indeed primitive feathers with a
very simple structure, however an alternative interpretation has also been
proposed - that they are the remains of collagen fibers. It has been noted
that patches appear on the sides of the body, back, neck skull, arms, leg,
and the top and bottom of the tail, suggesting that the animal was completely
covered with these "feathers" in life. On the tail, there are also
a series of lighter and darker bands, which may be the remains of melanin,
and thus give an indication of the animal's living appearance.
We also have some direct evidence of Sinosauropteryx's diet. One
fossil
specimen shows the remains of a lizard in its stomach. A second
fossil,
which is also believed to be Sinosauropteryx, was found to contain
the remains of the jawbones of three small mammals, two of the jaws
being from
Zhangheotherium (a Symmetrodont - an extinct order of primitive mammals),
and the other one being from
Sinobaatar (a Multituberculate - another extinct order of mammals).
Finally we also some information about the reproduction of
Sinosauropteryx. The fossil
which had a lizard as part of its preserved stomach content, also contained
a number of eggs (two of which can be clearly seen). It is not thought that these are eggs
that the animal ate (because they are in the wrong part of the body), but rather they
are thought to be the animal's own unlaid eggs. Each egg is about 1 inch (25 millimeters) wide,
and just under 1½ inches (38 millimeters) long.
Sinosauropteryx Timeline:
Sinosauropteryx was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived from 125 to 122 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Sinosauropteryx Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Sinosauropteryx:
- Sinosauropteryx was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Sinosauropteryx" means "Chinese lizard-wing".
- Sinosauropteryx was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Sinosauropteryx was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Sinosauropteryx was a Theropod - a member of a group of related bipedal dinosaurs that included the ancestors of birds (although Sinosauropteryx was not itself an ancestor of birds).
- Sinosauropteryx lived between about 125 million years ago and 122 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period.
- Sinosauropteryx lived in China.
- Sinosauropteryx was a carnivore (meat-eater).
- Sinosauropteryx was about 3¼ to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters) long.
- Sinosauropteryx weighed about 5½ pounds (2.5 kilograms).
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Sinosauropteryx Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Michael William Skrepnick
Brand: Enslow Elementary
Library Binding (24 pages)
 | List Price: $23.60*
Lowest New Price: $16.01*
In Stock*
*(As of 07:16 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Sinosauropteryx-Mysterious Feathered Dinosaur (I Like Dinosaurs!)- Manufacturer: Enslow Elementary
- Brand: Brand: Enslow Elementary
- ISBN: 076602623X
- EAN: 9780766026230
Details:- Product Category: Library Binding
- Number of Pages: 24
- Author: Michael William Skrepnick
Physical Description:- Size: 9.5 inches by 7.75 inches by 0.75 inches
- Weight: 0.95 pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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By Philip J Currie & Jan Sovak
Brand: Red Deer Press
Hardcover (56 pages)
 | Lowest Used Price: $49.77*
In Stock*
*(As of 07:16 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
A Moment In Time With Sinosauropteryx (A Moment In Time Series)- Manufacturer: Troodon Producitons
- Brand: Brand: Red Deer Press
- ISBN: 0968251234
- EAN: 9780968251232
Details:- Hardcover
- Edition: 1
- Number of Pages: 56
- Authors: Philip J Currie, Eva B Koppelhus, Jan Sovak, Philip J. Currie
Physical Description:- Size: 9.75 inches by 6.75 inches by 0.5 inches
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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By Shen Shixi
East China Normal University Press
Released: June 1st, 2013
Paperback (171 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $4.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 07:16 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Sinosauropteryx Family Legend (Chinese Edition)- Manufacturer: East China Normal University Press
- ISBN: 7567506726
- EAN: 9787567506725
- PartNumber: 9787567506725
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 171
- Author: Shen Shixi
- Publication Date: June 1st, 2013
- Release Date: June 1st, 2013
Click here for more information |
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By Darren Naish
Princeton University Press
Released: November 30th, 2021
Hardcover (216 pages)
 | List Price: $16.95*
Lowest New Price: $15.19*
In Stock*
*(As of 07:16 Pacific 15 Jan 2025 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Dinopedia: A Brief Compendium of Dinosaur Lore (Pedia Books)- Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
- ISBNs: 0691212023, 0143459686
- EANs: 9780143459682, 9780691212029
- PartNumber: 40426197
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 216
- Author: Darren Naish
- Publication Date: November 30th, 2021
- Release Date: November 30th, 2021
Physical Description:- Size: 7.0 inches by 4.75 inches by 0.75 inches
- Weight: 2.314853751 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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