Sinovenator facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sinovenator Temporal range: Lower Cretaceous
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Sauropsida
Superorder:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Theropoda
Family:	Troodontidae
Genus:	Sinovenator

Sinovenator is a small troodontid dinosaur, about the size of a chicken. It is from the early Cretaceous period, 128.2 million years ago. Two fossils were found in the older (lower) portion of the Yixian Formation in China. It was part of the Jehol biota.

The type specimen of Sinovenator changii was described in 2002. The specimen is a partial skull and disarticulated skeleton. A second specimen has connected bones, but lacks the skull. Both are in the collection of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, China.

Sinovenator was a basal troodontid. It shares features with the most primitive dromaeosaurids and Avialae. This shows the common descent of these three members of the Paraves.

Images for kids

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  Known elements of the holotype

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  Life restoration of sprinting Sinovenator.

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  Size of Sinovenator compared to a human

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  Photo and CT scan of skull PMOL-AD00102

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  Specimen IVPP V14322

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  Details of specimen BMNHC Ph798, the skull is partially covered by fibula and tibia.

See also

In Spanish: Sinovenator changii para niños