| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 0.6m |
| Length | 1.2m |
| Weight | 4 kg |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | China |
Changyuraptor yangi was a remarkable four-winged theropod dinosaur that lived approximately 125 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Liaoning Province, China. This extraordinary predator belonged to a group of feathered dinosaurs called the Microraptoria, representing one of the most bird-like dinosaurs ever discovered.
What made Changyuraptor truly exceptional was its impressive plumage. At 1.2 metres long, it possessed the longest tail feathers of any known dinosaur, with some reaching up to 30 centimetres in length. These elongated feathers weren't just for show - they formed flight surfaces on both its arms and legs, creating the distinctive 'four-winged' appearance that has captivated scientists and dinosaur enthusiasts alike.
As a carnivorous theropod, Changyuraptor would have hunted small mammals, birds, and other vertebrates in the lush forest environments of Early Cretaceous China. Its sharp, curved claws and keen eyesight made it an effective predator, whilst its feathered wings allowed it to glide between trees and potentially achieve powered flight over short distances.
The discovery of Changyuraptor has provided invaluable insights into the evolution of flight in dinosaurs and the transition from ground-dwelling predators to aerial hunters, helping scientists better understand the evolutionary pathway that led to modern birds.
Changyuraptor was distinguished by its extraordinary four-winged configuration, with flight feathers on both its arms and legs. Most notably, it possessed the longest tail feathers of any known dinosaur, with some individual feathers reaching 30 centimetres in length, giving it a distinctive fan-like tail display.
Changyuraptor likely spent much of its time in trees, using its four wings to glide between branches whilst hunting for prey. The long tail feathers would have provided excellent control during flight, acting like a rudder to help it navigate through dense forest canopies with precision and manoeuvrability.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Family | Dromaeosauridae |
| Genus | Changyuraptor |
Changyuraptor was first described by Luis Chiappe and colleagues in 2014. The original fossils were discovered at Liaoning Province, China.
