The skeleton found in the Lyaon province of China has been identified as belonging to the dinosaur Norellraptor barsboldi

The well-preserved skeleton found in Liaoning Province has been identified as belonging to a previously unknown dinosaur species, Norellraptor barsboldi, according to One.uz.

It measures 57 centimeters in length, and the findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

The discovery and its characteristics The skeleton was found by a local farmer. During excavation, traces of the dinosaur’s front and hind limbs, as well as tail feathers, were preserved.

This has led to its classification among the so-called “four-winged” dinosaurs. Norellraptor barsboldi belongs to the microraptorine group, a clade of small predatory dinosaurs.

Scientists speculate that its long leg feathers may have been an adaptation for moving between trees, although active flight capability has not yet been definitively confirmed.

Scientific significance The primary importance of the find lies in the fact that its flight-related features can be compared with similar traits in early birds. Researchers found that certain characteristics appear in both groups, but they developed in different sequences.

This supports the hypothesis that the ability to fly evolved independently in birds and certain closely related dinosaur lineages. As the researchers emphasize, further discoveries and studies on feather development will help clarify how widespread this evolutionary pathway was.