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''Changyuraptor '' is a genus of "four-winged", predatory dinosaurs. It is known from a single fossil specimen representing the species ''Changyuraptor yangi'', which was discovered from Early Cretaceous (125 million year old) deposits in Liaoning Province, China. ''C. yangi'' belongs to the group of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaurs called the Microraptorinae.〔 At the time of its discovery, ''C. yangi'' was the largest four-winged dinosaur known.〔 ==Description== Analysis of the fossil at the University of Cape Town, South Africa reveals that the specimen was a fully grown adult, approximately long and estimated to weigh , roughly the size of a turkey. These dimensions make ''Changyuraptor'' the largest four-winged microraptorine known, exceeding previously known specimens in size by at least 60%.〔 Like other microraptorines, ''Changyuraptor'' had feathers all over its body, including forelimbs and hindlimbs, which gives the appearance of having two pairs of wings. The presence of long feathers on all four limbs also suggests that these dinosaurs could fly.〔 The dinosaur's tail is long and feathered, with end feathers up to long, equalling approximately 30% of the length of the animal's skeleton.〔 This length exceeds the previous record length of for feathers from non-avian dinosaurs.〔 The elongated tail feathers are thought to have helped provide softer and safer landings.〔 They could have controlled pitch, a feature useful for a heavier animal, that would have attained a faster gliding speed.〔 While elongated feathers on the hindlimbs were present in many early birds, such as ''Archaeopteryx'', the morphology of microraptorines suggests a different aerodynamic model from that of modern birds, which have characteristically bald legs and exhibit stable flight using two wings only.〔 ''Changyuraptor'' is thought to have existed alongside a variety of predatory and herbivorous dinosaurs of the Jehol Biota, including ''Yutyrannus'', in moist temperate forest, primarily vegetated by gingkos and conifers, with hot, dry summers and frosty winters.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Changyuraptor」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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