**Aurornis: An Early Dinosaur**
Aurornis is an extinct type of dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 160 million years ago. It was discovered in China and is known from a single species called Aurornis xui.
Scientists believe that Aurornis xui was one of the earliest members of the bird family tree. It lived around 10 million years before Archaeopteryx, which is often called the first bird. This makes Aurornis an important find for understanding how birds evolved.
**Description**
Aurornis was about the same size as a modern pheasant, measuring around 50 centimeters long. It had wings with claws and a long tail made of bones. Its legs were similar to those of Archaeopteryx, but overall, it had a more primitive body structure.
Some fossils of Aurornis showed traces of soft feathers on its tail, chest, and neck. These feathers suggest that it might have been able to glide or fly to some extent.
**Discovery**
The fossil of Aurornis was found in a piece of rock and was described by scientists in 2013. The rock came from a known location in China that dates back to the Late Jurassic period. Because of some uncertainties around the exact age of the fossil, scientists are currently investigating to confirm if it truly is from 160 million years ago.
**Classification**
Aurornis belongs to a group of theropod dinosaurs, which are mostly known for being bipedal (walking on two legs). It is classified under a family called Anchiornithidae.
There is some debate among scientists about whether Aurornis should be considered a true bird or not. Different studies have yielded different results, and the classification can sometimes depend on what characteristics scientists think define a bird.
Some paleontologists suggest that while Aurornis had bird-like features, it may not yet be a “true bird.” This ongoing discussion highlights how complex and fascinating the evolution of birds from dinosaurs has been.
In summary, Aurornis xui gives us valuable insight into the early stages of dinosaur evolution and the beginnings of what would become modern birds. Its discovery helps fill in the gaps in our understanding of how feathers and flight might have originated among dinosaurs.