Aorun is a type of dinosaur that lived around 161.6 million years ago during the Late Jurassic Period. It is classified as a theropod, which means it was a carnivorous dinosaur.
**Discovery and Naming**
Aorun was discovered in 2006 in Xinjiang, China, by a team led by James Clark and his student Jonah Choiniere. They found bones, including a skull and some leg bones, while digging in a remote area. The name “Aorun” comes from a mythical character in Chinese folklore, and the full species name, Aorun zhaoi, honors a professor who contributed to paleontology in the region.
**Description**
The main specimen of Aorun is quite small, about 1 meter long and weighing around 1.5 kilograms. It had a lightweight body designed for running and hunting. The skull had a variety of sharp teeth, which helped it catch prey. Notably, the teeth were not serrated, which is different from many other theropods.
**Unique Features**
Aorun had some special features that set it apart from other dinosaurs. Its skull had unique openings, and the shape of its bones indicated it was still a young dinosaur when it died. The way its hand and claws were shaped also differed from many other theropods.
**Environment**
Aorun lived in a warm climate that had dry seasons. Other dinosaurs from the same area included larger theropods and other types of prehistoric animals like flying reptiles and long-necked sauropods. Aorun likely hunted small lizards and mammals.
Overall, Aorun gives us important clues about the diversity of small dinosaurs during the Jurassic Period and their place in the ecosystem. It is one of the oldest known members of its family and helps researchers understand how dinosaurs evolved over time.