Caudipteryx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caudipteryx Temporal range: Lower Cretaceous 124.6 mya
Caudipteryx zoui
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Theropoda
Infraorder:	Oviraptorosauria
Family:	Caudipteridae Zhou & Wang, 2000
Genus:	Caudipteryx Q. Ji, Currie, Norell & S.-A. Ji, 1998
Species
C. zoui (type)

Caudipteryx was a small, feathered dinosaur that lived about 124.6 million years ago. This was during the Lower Cretaceous period. It was discovered in China and is an important fossil. Scientists study Caudipteryx to understand how dinosaurs might be related to modern birds.

What Was Caudipteryx Like?

Caudipteryx was a small dinosaur, less than a meter (about 3 feet) long. It had long, thin legs, which suggests it was a fast runner. Its body was covered in feathers.

Its Amazing Feathers

Caudipteryx had a special fan of feathers on its tail. It also had a fringe of feathers along the back edge of each arm. These feathers were very similar to bird feathers. They had a central stalk and vanes on both sides.

Why Couldn't It Fly?

Even though Caudipteryx had feathers, it could not fly. Its arms were too short and not strong enough for flight. Instead, these feathers might have been used for showing off or for keeping warm.

Where Did Caudipteryx Live and What Did It Eat?

Fossils of Caudipteryx have been found in China. These fossils give us clues about its life.

Its Diet

Scientists believe Caudipteryx was an insectivore. This means it mostly ate insects. Its small size and quick legs would have helped it catch tiny prey. Some fossils even show small stones in its stomach. These stones, called gastroliths, helped the dinosaur grind up its food.

How Is Caudipteryx Related to Other Dinosaurs?

Caudipteryx belonged to a group of dinosaurs called Theropoda. This group includes many meat-eating dinosaurs.

Family Tree

Caudipteryx was related to Oviraptor, another feathered dinosaur. It also looked a bit like Archaeopteryx, which is often called the "first bird." Caudipteryx was also a relative of Protarchaeopteryx. Studying these dinosaurs helps us see the links between dinosaurs and birds.

Images for kids

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  A drawing showing what C. zoui might have looked like.

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  The main fossil of C. zoui, showing feather marks and stomach contents. It is at the Geological Museum of China.

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  Small stones (gastroliths) found in the stomach area of a C. zoui fossil. This one is at the National Museum of Natural Science.

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  A copy of a C. zoui fossil, displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

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  Drawings of the skeletons of three different Caudipteryx fossils.

See also

In Spanish: Caudipteryx para niños