Yixianosaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived a long time ago, during the Early Cretaceous period, about 122 million years ago. Its name means “Yixian lizard,” named after the Yixian Formation in China where its fossils were found.
The only known species of Yixianosaurus is called Yixianosaurus longimanus. This dinosaur was first officially described in 2003 by scientists Xu Xing and Wang Xiaolin after its fossils were discovered in 2001.
What we know about Yixianosaurus comes from a single skeleton, which is not complete. This skeleton has important parts like the shoulder bone, a set of arms, some ribs, and fossilized feathers.
Yixianosaurus had very long hands, which were 40% longer than its upper arms. This unique feature might have helped it catch food or climb. The dinosaur’s total length was about 1 meter, or about 3.3 feet, and it is believed to have weighed around 1 kilogram, which is about 2.2 pounds.
Even though we only have a little information, scientists think that the feathers on its arms could indicate that it might have been capable of gliding or limited flying.
As for its classification, Yixianosaurus is part of a group called Maniraptora. Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly where it fits within this group. Some believe it is closely related to another feathered dinosaur called Epidendrosaurus, while others think it might share features with different dinosaur groups.
In short, Yixianosaurus is a fascinating dinosaur that helps us understand more about how dinosaurs adapted and evolved over time!