Microraptor gui
China, Early Cretaceous (110–120 million years ago), described 2003
Hundreds of specimens of several similar species of this four-winged flier have been found in Liaoning. Studies revealed these animals had feathers that were blue-black with an iridescent sheen, similar to a crow, and serrations in their teeth suggest that fish were part of their diet. Three species have been named (M. gui, M. zhaoianus and M. hanqingi), but they may yet be shown to represent variation within a single species. Microraptor (MY-crow-RAP-tor) means ‘tiny plunderer’. The species was named in honor of Chinese paleontologist Gu Zhiwei.
Video courtesy of the BBC Earth YouTube Channel and originally from the fantastic Planet Dinosaur documentary series.
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