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Four-Foot Microraptor Species Pushes Range 120 Million Years

6/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Jingmai O’Connor, curator at the Field Museum, announced the new microraptor species Jian changmaensis.
The Jian changmaensis fossil from the Changma Basin in Gansu includes shoulder bones and a 4-inch arm bone suggesting a four-foot wingspan like barn owl.
Scientists propose Jian changmaensis made bird-bone pellet clusters in the fossil bed.
Matt Lamanna, senior dinosaur researcher at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, said the find pushes microraptor range to 120 million years ago.

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Story summary

Jingmai O’Connor, curator at the Field Museum, announced the new microraptor species Jian changmaensis.
The Jian changmaensis fossil from the Changma Basin in Gansu includes shoulder bones and a 4-inch arm bone suggesting a four-foot wingspan like barn owl.
Scientists propose Jian changmaensis made bird-bone pellet clusters in the fossil bed.
Matt Lamanna, senior dinosaur researcher at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, said the find pushes microraptor range to 120 million years ago.