Page 69 - DINOSOUR ATLAS

Xiliao Liaoning

C H I N A
Shenyang Fossils chipped From the early cretaceous rocks of China’s
Yixian Formation
L I A O N I N G Liaoning Province have revolutionized the study of dinosaurs.
NORTH In this area, 125 million years ago, small meat-eating
Beijing
Liaodong KOREA dinosaurs and primitive birds lived together in a forested
Wan Korea Bay landscape dotted with freshwater lakes. Animals that died
Bo Hai P’yongyang and fell into the water were buried by ash from nearby
volcanoes. In 1996, the discovery of Sinosauropteryx changed
u site location
the way people thought about dinosaurs—the Sinosauropteryx
Liaoning Province is in northeast China,
and the dinosaur-bearing siltstones of the fossil had a featherlike coat, strengthening claims that
Yixian Formation are in the west. dinosaurs and birds are related.

Long taiL feathers—it is
thought that these were
present on male birds only

CLawed fingers
on each wing

conFUciUsoRnis
Like today’s birds, Confuciusornis
had a toothless beak, perched in
trees, and ate plants. However, it
was related to dinosaurs—its wing
fingers were similar to the grasping
hands of theropod dinosaurs.

PsittacosaURUs
This plant-eating
dinosaur had a square
skull and curved beak—
hence its name, “parrot
lizard.” Jutting out from
the side of its face
were cheekbones that
formed horns, which
may have been used
for fighting.

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