Fossil belonged to a gliding dinosaur that hunted birds

Key Points:

• A 120-million-year-old fossil named Jian changmaensis, a new species of microraptor, was discovered in the Changma Basin of northwestern China, expanding the known geographical range and timeline of these feathered, predatory dinosaurs.
• Jian changmaensis is notable for its well-preserved shoulder and forelimb bones, which provide critical insights into the dinosaur's birdlike characteristics and potential gliding abilities, contributing to understanding the origins of avian flight.
• Microraptors, including Jian changmaensis, had feathers on both their arms and hind legs, likely enabling them to glide between trees as arboreal predators, possibly preying on early birds like Gansus yumenensis found in the same region.
• The fossil's distinctive shoulder bone structure, particularly the supracoracoid fenestra, is unique to microraptors and may be linked to flight adaptations, marking Jian changmaensis as a likely capable glider or flyer.
• Researchers highlight the rarity of microraptor fossils in the Changma Basin despite abundant bird fossils, suggesting ecological factors influenced fossil preservation, and plan further analyses of the fossil to better understand microraptor flight mechanics.