Dalianraptor (meaning "Dalian thief") is a dubious genus of prehistoric bird that lived in China about 120 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous Period that was found in the Jiufotang Formation of China.[1] It was initially believed to have been a possible dromaeosaurid before it was described in 2005.[2]
Dalianraptor Temporal range: Early Cretaceous,
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | Theropoda |
Clade: | Paraves |
Clade: | Avialae |
Genus: | †Dalianraptor Gao & Liu, 2005 |
Species: | †D. cuhe
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Binomial name | |
†Dalianraptor cuhe Gao & Liu, 2005
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The holotype, D2139, was discovered sometime before the 2000s, when Matthew Martyniuk saw a photograph of the holotype, which was then labelled as an undescribed possible dromaeosaurid.[2] The type, and only known species, D. cuhe, was named and described by Gao & Liu in 2005.[1]
More recently, it is being suspected that the specimen is a chimera forged for the fossil trade,[3] namely a Jeholornis with the arms exchanged by those of an unnamed flightless theropod.[4][2] If the holotype is not a chimera, then the placement of Dalianraptor within Aves is still uncertain.[4]
Dalianraptor is very similar to the contemporary avialian Jeholornis, though it has a longer digit I (thumb-equivalent) and shorter forelimbs,[5] which suggests it may have been flightless. It also reached about 80 centimetres (31 in) in length.