Updated Dec 21, 2020 | 13:58 IST
The scientists have not been able to determine whether the fossil is a male or female. But based on their findings of modern birds, they believe it to be a male. Discovery of chicken-sized dinosaur amazes scientists | Photo Credit: Twitter
Earlier this year, a 120-million-year-old fossil, that was discovered in China helped researchers and scientists to bridge the gap between dinosaurs and modern birds.
After researchers analysed and studied the fossil, the species was dubbed as ‘Wulong bohaiensis’ or the dancing dragon’ and described as a strange mix between a bird and a dinosaur.
The researchers from China and the United States said the dinosaur was about the size of a raven with a long and bony tail. Further study revealed its body was covered with feathers with two plumes at the end of the tail. The specimen has feathers on its limbs and tail that we associate with adult birds, but it had other fea
| UPDATED: 07:02, Thu, Dec 17, 2020
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The elaborately-decorated dinosaur species Ubirajara jubatus is known to have been only the size of a chicken. With a mane of long fur flowing down its back and strangely-stiff ribbons stuck out from its shoulders, the dinosaur s features have never before been seen in fossils.
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Ubirajara jubatus is named after a Tupi Indian name for ‘lord of the spear’, in reference to the creature’s stiffened structures, and jubatus from the Latin meaning ‘crested’ (Bob Nicholls/Paleocreations.com)
A new chicken-sized dinosaur with flamboyant features used to attract mates or intimidate foes has been discovered.
Ubirajara jubatus, which lived about 110 million years ago, had elaborate plumage including a long fur mane and stiff ribbons projecting from its shoulders.
Researchers said these shoulder ribbons were not scales, fur or feathers and are believed to be unique to the animal. Each had a small sharp ridge running along the middle.
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Scientists have recently discovered a flamboyant, chicken-sized dinosaur that could shed new light on how birds and fowls like peacocks have their practice of showing off.
The new species of dinosaur has been designated as Ubirajara jubatus, discovered by an international team of scientists led by Professor David Martill and Robert Smyth from the University of Portsmouth and Professor Dino Frey from the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe in Germany.
Results of their findings appear in the journal Cretaceous Research on December 13.
(Photo : Luxquine via Wikimedia Commons)
Dressed to Impress
Researchers discovered this new species while examining fossils in the Karlsruhe collection. They identified a small dinosaur with an elaborate mane of fur running down its back, as well as rows of stiff ribbons from its shoulders, features never found before in fossil records - prompting a new, previously undiscovered species. Scientists behind the discovery theorize that