
Dinosaur profile
Beipiaosaurus
Pronunciation
bay-pyow-sore-us
Beipiao lizard
Small Theropod
2.2 meters long
Early Cretaceous
127-121 million years ago
China
DietOmnivore
About Beipiaosaurus
Beipiaosaurus is a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous Period, about 130-125 million years ago. It was a small to medium-sized carnivore, with an estimated length of about 13-20 feet and a weight of about 500-1000 pounds. Beipiaosaurus had a long, slender neck and a small head with sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles. It also had long, slender legs and a long, heavy tail, which it may have used for balance while running. Its body was probably covered in a layer of feathers.
Beipiaosaurus was discovered in China in the 1990s, and was named by paleontologists in 1999. It is considered a member of the coppensodontid group of theropods, which also includes species such as Sinocoppensodon and Yutyrannus. Beipiaosaurus is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several partial skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur. It is thought to be closely related to other coppensodontids such as Caudipteryx and Protarchaeopteryx.
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