Reptile · GBIF taxon 8692831
Anchiornis huxleyi
Anchiornis huxleyiAnchiornis huxleyi was a crow-sized paravian dinosaur bearing dense plumage across all four limbs, forming aerodynamic flight surfaces on both its forelimbs and hind legs. Fossil melanosome analysis revealed a striking color pattern: a slate-gray to black body, bold white-and-black barred wing feathers, and a vibrant rufous-red crest atop its head. While its limb anatomy suggests it was primarily a ground runner and agile clamberer among Jurassic forest undergrowth, its extensive wing feathers provided lift for gliding or controlled descents from branches.
FossilFeatheredCarnivorous

Licensed referenceJonathan Chen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Insects
- Lizards
- Early mammals
Predators
- Sinraptor
- Guanlong
- Larger theropods
ThreatsPrehistoric carnivores and volcanic ash deposition events
HabitatsTemperate Jurassic forests, lake margins, and volcanic woodlands
Life spanEstimated 4–8 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTroodontidae
- GenusAnchiornis
- SpeciesAnchiornis huxleyi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known exclusively from fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Museum Viewing: Examine Tiaojishan fossil slabs under raking light to observe soft-tissue feather halos.
- Scientific Literature: Review scanning electron microscopy studies on fossilized melanosomes to see how plumage colors were reconstructed.
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