About 150 million years ago, there was a dinosaur that looked like a bird with long legs. It lived in southeast China.
Last year, in Fujian province, scientists found the fossil of this Jurassic Period dinosaur. They named it Fujianvenator prodigiosus. The creature could tell scientists more about how birds evolved.
Palaeontologist Min Wang described the Fujianvenator as “bizarre” because of its long legs and wings. Scientists are not sure if this animal was a fast runner or waded in water like modern cranes or herons.
“I would put my money on runner,” Wang said.
“The forelimb is generally built like a bird’s wing, but with three claws on the fingers, which are absent from modern birds ... It cannot be determined whether it could fly,” he added.
“Fujianvenator probably was not good at flying.”
Scientists believe this fossil shows that many dinosaurs were similar to birds.
Quiz time
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What is the name of this birdlike dinosaur?
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Which kinds of modern birds are waders?
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When was this dinosaur alive?
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How is this dinosaur different from modern birds?
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Why is this fossil important?
