Reptile · GBIF taxon 4966326
Microraptor gui
Microraptor guiAlso known as Four-winged Dinosaur
Microraptor was a tiny, four-winged predatory dinosaur that possessed long flight feathers on both its forelimbs and hindlegs. Analysis of fossilized melanosomes reveals it sported glossy, iridescent black plumage reminiscent of a modern starling or crow. Arboreal and agile, it hunted through temperate Cretaceous forests by gliding between tree crowns in pursuit of small vertebrates.
FossilPrehistoricCarnivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Enantiornithine birds
- Early mammals
- Small teleost fish
Predators
- Sinocalliopteryx gigas
- Large pterosaurs
- Larger theropod dinosaurs
ThreatsVolcanic eruptions, habitat shifts, larger theropod predators
HabitatsTemperate volcanic forests and lakeside woodland (Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation)
Life span10–15 years
Classification
- FamilyDromaeosauridae
- GenusMicroraptor
- SpeciesMicroraptor gui
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct early Cretaceous species; observe via curated museum fossil specimens.
Responsible observation
- Museum viewing: Examine slab specimens under UV light to reveal delicate feather halos.
- Fossil care: Never touch unprepared fossil shale, which easily flakes and degrades.
- Scientific etiquette: Report undocumented specimens to certified paleontological institutions.
Predator Lida Xing, Phil R. Bell, W. Scott Persons IV, Shuan Ji, Tetsuto Miyashita, Michael E. Burns, Qiang Ji, Philip J. Currie / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Same Family (c) Fred Wierum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Jonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Laikayiu / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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