Norellraptor barsboldi Fossil in China Bolsters Case for Independent Evolution of Flight in Dinosaurs
A newly discovered feathered predator from northeastern China, named Norellraptor barsboldi, has been recognized, reinforcing the theory that flight evolved independently in various dinosaur groups. The findings were published in Nature Communications on September 29 and pay tribute to paleontologists Mark Allen Norell and Rinchen Barsbold. This specimen, which dates back 100 to 145 million years, was at least 3 years old and featured a 22-inch skeleton, four wings, a lengthy tail, and sharp teeth. Researchers created a revised evolutionary tree for microraptors, noting 194 anatomical adaptations, with 30% also found in the evolution of birds, indicating convergent evolution where flight emerged separately in non-avialan dinosaurs and birds.
Key facts
- New species Norellraptor barsboldi described from a well-preserved fossil found in northeastern China
- Study published September 29 in Nature Communications
- Fossil rock dated to approximately 100 million to 145 million years ago
- Specimen was at least 3 years old at death with a roughly 22-inch-long skeleton, four wings, long tail, and sharp teeth and claws
- Genus name honors Mark Allen Norell; species name barsboldi honors Rinchen Barsbold
- Analyses found 194 anatomical adaptations in microraptors, about 30 percent of which also arose in bird evolution
- Overlapping flight-related traits evolved in different orders, suggesting convergent evolution rather than common ancestry
- A 2021 paper proposed dinosaurs related to birds evolved flight at least three separate times
Entities
Artists
- Mark Allen Norell
- Rinchen Barsbold
- Michael Pittman
- Scott Hartman
- Rui Pei
- Jacqueline Nguyen
- Riley Black
- Chris Simms
- James Woodford
- Zhao Chuang
- Margherita Bassi
Institutions
- Nature Communications
- University of Hong Kong
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Australian Museum
- Live Science
- New Scientist
- Smithsonian magazine
- BBC Travel
- Discover magazine
- Atlas Obscura
- Hidden Compass
Locations
- China
- Northeastern China
- Hong Kong
- Wisconsin
- Madison
- Australia
- Austria
- South Korea
- Mississippi