New Four-Winged Dinosaur Sheds Light on Independent Evolution of Flight

A remarkably complete fossil unearthed in western Liaoning, China, has been described as a new microraptorine species, Norellraptor barsboldi. The 57 cm (?21 inches) skeleton preserves feather traces on both fore- and hindlimbs and the tail tip. Microstructural analysis of the left radius indicates the animal was at least three years old at death, suggesting it was a teenager rather than a hatchling. The species name honors paleontologists Mark Allen Norell and Rinchen Barsbold, both of whom died in 2025. The findings were published in *Nature Communications* by Andrea Cau, Qiang Ji, Xuri Wang, and colleagues.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China

Microraptorines are a group of tiny, four-winged dinosaurs known primarily from Early Cretaceous deposits in China. Their anatomy—long feathers on all limbs and a feathered tail—has made them central to debates over how and when powered flight arose among paravian dinosaurs. Some researchers have argued that flight-related traits were inherited from a common ancestor of birds and microraptorines; others propose independent evolution driven by separate selective pressures.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China All That's Interesting

• Skeleton length: 57 cm (?21 inches).

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• Age at death: >=3 years, based on bone microstructure.

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• Geological setting: Jiufotang Formation, Early Cretaceous. Sources differ on the age range—one places it at 125–113 million years ago, while another gives a broader span of 145–100 million years ago.

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• Anatomical overlap: Approximately 30 % of the 194 documented changes in microraptorine evolution also appear in the bird lineage, including increased rib-sternum connections, alular (thumb) feathers, and more robust forelimbs.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China

The authors conclude that the shared features arose independently in microraptorines and birds, because the sequence of trait acquisition differs between the two groups. This supports a convergent-evolution scenario in which distinct lineages developed flight-related adaptations under separate ecological pressures.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China

The research team emphasizes that the completeness of the N. barsboldi specimen allows a robust comparison across the paravian tree, strengthening the case for independent evolution of flight structures.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China

• Age of the Jiufotang Formation: One source cites 125–113 Ma, while another provides a broader 145–100 Ma window, reflecting uncertainty in precise dating.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China

• Flight mechanics: The exact mode of flight—gliding, flapping, or non-aerial functions of the wings—remains unresolved. The authors call for additional fossils and bone-growth evidence to test whether similar independent patterns occurred in other bird-like dinosaur groups.

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• “These are clearly little predatory buggers. If you’re leaping onto things or dropping onto things, that kind of control would be pretty important,” — Scott Hartman, a paleontologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

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• “I doubt they could climb trees like a squirrel to gain height because their forelimbs don’t have that range of motion,” — Scott Hartman, a paleontologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

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The authors highlight Liaoning’s Yixian Formation, which underlies the Jiufotang Formation, as a promising site for future excavations. Continued fieldwork there is expected to yield more well-preserved specimens that can further test the hypothesis of independent flight evolution among non-avialan dinosaurs.

Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China