Meep-meep! The newfound "roadrunner" dinosaur is seen in an artist's reconstruction.
Illustration courtesy Matt Van Rooijen
Published March 31, 2010
A new dinosaur species unearthed in China would have given Wile E. Coyote a run for his money. Nicknamed the roadrunner, the tiny dinosaur is one of the smallest and leggiest Alvarezsaurs ever to have roamed the Earth.
Alvarezsaurs are known for their long-legged bodies adapted for running, and the group has been linked to the larger dinosaur family that includes modern birds. (Related: "Smallest Dinosaur in North America Discovered.")
Remains of the newfound species, Xixianykus zhangi, were found last spring by a local farmer in China's Henan Province, around 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Beijing. The dinosaur lived about 85 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period.
Based on the partial fossil, scientists think the creature was around 1.5 feet (0.5 meter) long with 10-inch-long (25-centimeter-long) legs.
Among the roadrunner dinosaur's most notable features are very short upper legs compared with its lower legs and feet—extreme even among Alvarezsaurs.
"These proportions imply it could put great long strides in and move fast," said Dave Hone, a paleontologist based at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing who has been studying the skeleton.
Roadrunner Dinosaur Also an Ant Eater
Although the roadrunner's forelimbs were not preserved, the dinosaur most likely had the muscular arms and large claws associated with Alvarezsaurs—perfect for pulling apart termite mounds and ripping into logs in its hunt for juicy insect morsels.
Features of the fossil backbone and pelvis confirm that idea: "The front of the body is adapted not to twist, which saves energy when running and provides a brace for digging actions," Hone said.
In addition, scientists think the tiny dinosaur sported feathers, since many of its cousins have been found with preserved plumage. (Related: "Dinosaur True Colors Revealed for First Time.")
X. zhangi was most likely an endurance runner, using minimal energy to cover long distances in its search for food, Hone added.
But if a wily tyrannosaur ever popped up in its path, he said, the roadrunner dinosaur probably could have managed a quick sprint to safety.
The roadrunner dinosaur is described this week in the journal Zootaxa.
Most Popular News
-
Pictures: Bird Mummies "Fed" After Death, Stuffed With Snails
Some of the millions of ancient Egyptian ibis mummies were "fed" after death, scans reveal—the better to live through the afterlife.
-
Lake Vostok Breached
Russian scientists have confirmed that they have breached the subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctica—a first.
-
Oldest Animal Discovered?
Could 760-million-year-old African "sponges" be humankind's earliest known ancestors?
Advertisement
From the Web
-
From Huffington Post: Wolf Fosters Kitten
Adorable footage shows a pet wolf looking after a tiny kitty.
-
From Huffington Post: Rare Albino Hummingbird Spotted
The tiny bird was seen visiting a backyard in Virginia.
News Blogs
-
[Errno 2] No such file or directory: u'/nas/ngdm/wpf/static/media-live/photos/000/484/cache/48494_60x45.jpg'
Young Explorer Catches Gelada Fight on Film
NG Young Explorer Shayna Liberman catches violent, hours-long dominance battle between males in stills and video.
-
Texas Moves to Save Critical Groundwater
Ogallala Aquifer has dropped as much as 150 feet.
-
Good News, Bad News on U.S. Energy Outlook
The "all of the above" energy approach Obama championed in his State of the Union speech is at odds with U.S. climate goals.
ScienceBlogs Picks
Connect With Nat Geo
Got Something to Share?
Special Ad Section
Great Energy Challenge Blog
Green Living Hot Topics
-
Organic Air Fresheners
Avoid toxic chemicals and create a calming space.
-
Surprising Recyclable Household Items
With a little know-how, you can recycle more than you think.
-
Side Effects of Vegetarianism
Find out how to stay healthy and eat lower on the food chain.
