China Unearths 120-Million-Year-Old Four-Winged Dinosaur With 16 Tail Feathers
Updated
Updated · Sci.News · Jun 23
China Unearths 120-Million-Year-Old Four-Winged Dinosaur With 16 Tail Feathers
1 articles · Updated · Sci.News · Jun 23
Summary
Changzhousaurus sinensis, a newly identified 34-cm pennaraptoran from Liaoning, is known from a nearly complete skeleton with extensive plumage and a four-winged body plan.
About 16 elongated tail feathers—roughly four times femoral length—gave it a peacock-like display, while 12-cm primary feathers made its wings unusually large for a non-avian dinosaur.
Xing Xu said that mix of traits places the species as an early-diverging deinonychosaur and suggests wing area and arm length did not always evolve together.
The Jiufotang Formation fossil adds to evidence that aerodynamic feathers and other bird-like features were widespread across pennaraptoran dinosaurs, complicating efforts to define early birds and reconstruct flight origins.
Could this tiny, four-winged dinosaur rewrite the story of how animals first conquered the air?
As fossils blur the lines between dinosaurs and birds, is it time to redefine what a 'bird' actually is?
Discovery of Jian changmaensis: A Giant Four-Winged Dinosaur Reshapes Early Cretaceous Flight Evolution
Overview
In June 2026, scientists announced the discovery of a new four-winged dinosaur, Jian changmaensis, unearthed in China’s Changma Basin. Named after a mythical winged creature and its place of origin, this species stands out for its bird-like appearance and unique four-winged structure. As a member of the microraptor group, Jian changmaensis was adapted for gliding rather than powered flight, offering fresh insight into the diversity of feathered dinosaurs. This remarkable find from a region rich in fossils highlights how early dinosaurs experimented with different ways of moving through the trees, deepening our understanding of flight evolution.