Xiaotingia is a type of dinosaur known to have lived during the Middle to Late Jurassic period, around 165 to 153 million years ago. It was discovered in western Liaoning, China and is classified as a paravian theropod dinosaur. Xiaotingia belongs to a family called Anchiornithidae and consists of just one species, named Xiaotingia zhengi.
The name Xiaotingia was created in 2011 by a group of scientists including Xu Xing, You Hailu, Du Kai, and Han Fenglu. The name honors the paleontologist Zheng Xiaoting.
Xiaotingia measured about 60 centimeters in length and weighed around 0.82 kilograms. This dinosaur was small and had feathers all over its body, including its head, limbs, and legs. Its long forelimbs suggest that it might have been able to flap them for short periods to glide or fly, much like a bird might do.
The bones of Xiaotingia were interesting, with a long femur (the thigh bone) that was longer than its humerus (the upper arm bone). This feature suggested that it spent time on its hind legs and might have used its arms for flight.
Xiaotingia had fewer than ten teeth in its jaw, which resembled those of early birds. Its feathers included long ones on its legs, which may have helped it maneuver while it was climbing or flying.
In terms of classification, Xiaotingia was initially grouped with other known dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx, a famous transitional species between dinosaurs and birds. Over time, scientists have debated where Xiaotingia fits in the bigger family tree of dinosaurs. Some studies have tried to place it among early flying birds, while others have suggested it has a closer link to different groups of theropods.
Overall, Xiaotingia is an exciting part of dinosaur history as it helps scientists understand the evolution of flight in dinosaurs and how they are related to modern birds.