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Jurapteryx

Say it: joor-AP-ter-ix

Name means: “Jurassic wing”4

Ate: FishEarly birdsLate Jurassic to Early Cretaceous

Jurapteryx was a small, feathered avialan that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. It could fly and had sharp teeth for catching fish and insects. Think of it as an early, toothed bird that fluttered through ancient forests.4

Lived

149 to 121 million years ago4

Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous

Fossils found in

Workerszell, Eichstätt, Germany4

Food

Fish4

Length

0.3 to 0.5 m4

estimated based on related Archaeopteryx specimens

Wingspan

0.5 to 0.7 m4

Weight

0.2 kg to 0.5 kg4

When did it live?

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

252 million years ago20114566, the asteroid

How big was it?

How long was it?

How heavy was it?

as heavy as 4 bananas

as long as 3 bananas end to endlighter than a house catas heavy as 4 bananas

How big was Jurapteryx compared to YOU?

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cool stuff

Fun facts

Jurapteryx is sometimes considered a synonym of Archaeopteryx, meaning some scientists think they are the same animal.4

Its name means 'Jurassic wing', because it lived during the Jurassic Period and had wings for flying.4

The only known fossil of Jurapteryx is a complete skeleton, found in the Altmühltal Formation of Germany.4

Jurapteryx lived in a coastal environment, near shallow lagoons where it could hunt for fish.4

It was a small avialan, about the size of a modern crow, with a wingspan of around half a meter.4

Jurapteryx had teeth, unlike modern birds, which it used to catch slippery prey like fish.4

AI-made picture of Jurapteryx — An AI-made picture of how Jurapteryx might have looked, made by a computer from what scientists know. It is a guess: the real animal may have looked different, and nobody knows its true colours.

you asked

Most asked questions about Jurapteryx

?Is Jurapteryx a dinosaur?

Yes, Jurapteryx is a small, feathered avialan dinosaur, sometimes considered a synonym of Archaeopteryx.1 2

?How big was Jurapteryx?

Jurapteryx was about the size of a modern crow, with a body length of up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) and a wingspan of around 70 centimetres (28 inches).1 2

?Could Jurapteryx fly?

Yes, Jurapteryx could fly or glide. It had broad, feathered wings, but scientists are not sure if it was a strong flapper or mostly a glider.1 2

?What did Jurapteryx eat?

Jurapteryx was carnivorous and likely ate small prey such as fish, insects, and small reptiles, catching them with its sharp teeth.1 2

?Did Jurapteryx have teeth?

Yes, Jurapteryx had many small, sharp teeth, unlike modern birds, which it used to catch slippery prey like fish.1 2

?When did Jurapteryx live?

Jurapteryx lived during the Late Jurassic Period, around 150 to 145 million years ago.1 2

?Where was Jurapteryx found?

The only known fossil of Jurapteryx was found in the Altmühltal Formation of Germany, near Solnhofen.1 2

?Is Jurapteryx the same as Archaeopteryx?

Many scientists think Jurapteryx is a synonym of Archaeopteryx, meaning they may be the same animal, but some consider it a separate species.1 3

?Did Jurapteryx have feathers?

Yes, Jurapteryx had feathers, including broad flight feathers on its wings and tail, very similar to modern bird feathers.1 2

?How fast could Jurapteryx run?

Nobody knows for sure, but Jurapteryx likely moved on two legs and could also fly, so it was probably quick on the ground and in the air.1 2

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Myth buster

Myth: Jurapteryx is a completely separate species from Archaeopteryx.

Truth: Many scientists think Jurapteryx is actually a synonym of Archaeopteryx, meaning it may be the same genus.4

For dino experts

Scientific name: Jurapteryx
Named by: Howgate 19854
Group: Early birds
Family / clade: Avialae4
Classification: Theropoda > Avialae4
Age of the rocks: 149 to 121 million years (Tithonian / Barremian)4
Rock formations: Altmühltal4
Countries: Germany4
Fossil records: 10 in the Paleobiology Database4
Discovery: Jurapteryx was named by M. E. Howgate in 1985, based on a complete skeleton found at Workerszell, Eichstätt, Germany.4
Still debated: Scientists are still debating whether Jurapteryx is a distinct genus or just a species of Archaeopteryx.4

Where the facts come from

Archaeopteryx (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
Archaeopteryx | Natural History Museum (nhm.ac.uk)
Jurapteryx recurva and Serikornis (reptileevolution.com)
Jurapteryx in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are dino fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

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