Chinese scientists announced they have found the fossil of the smallest known bird-like theropod dinosaur.
The British journal Nature published a report written by Xu Xing, Zhou Zhong and Wang Xiaolin in its December issue about the discovery.
All of the Chinese scientists are research fellows with the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Many think dinosaurs are huge monsters, but the newly discovered dinosaur, named Microraptor by the scientists, is only 39 centimeters long.
It was discovered by local farmers in Chaoyang County, Liaoning Province. The scientists bought it from the locals last December.
Microraptor is related to the velociraptor, a kind of ferocious dinosaur made famous by the movie "Jurassic Park."
Since last December, the scientists have studied the dinosaur's fossil remains, paying special attention to its structure.
To their great surprise, they discovered that the Microraptor could not only run like other theropod dinosaurs, but was also capable of climbing trees, according to their studies.
This discovery provides new clues for research into bird-like dinosaurs.
The scientists believe that the habits of some dinosaurs like the Microraptor were much more complicated than previously thought.
According to Xu Xing, the Microraptor represents a type of dinosaur whose structure and shape are closest to that of a bird.
Their study offers some important information to scientists who have debated the origin of birds for a long time.
During their research, the Chinese scientists say they found evidence to prove that the "Archaeoraptor Liaoningensis" is a fake. They think somebody made what was believed to be the first bird by combining the tail of a Microraptor with a modern bird's body.
Another important discovery, by Zhang Fucheng, associate professor with the same institute and his colleague Zhou Zhonghe, reported that a fossil bird, Protopteryx fengningensis, found in Fengning County, Hebei Province, provides evidence of early birds.
Feathers distinguish birds from other vertebrates, but people know little about their origin. It is commonly thought that feathers come from reptilian scales.
The newly discovered fossil bird shows features that seem to be midway between reptilian scales and true bird feathers, which provides an unusual glimpse into the evolution of feathers.
(China Daily 12/09/2000)
