Anchiornis

Anchiornis is an extinct genus of small, feathered paravian dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic of China. Exceptionally preserved fossils reveal extensive plumage, including feathers on its limbs and feet.

Paraves: Paraves is the group of theropod dinosaurs that includes dromaeosaurids, troodontids, and birds. Anchiornis belongs to this birdward branch of theropod dinosaurs.
Anchiornis huxleyi: Anchiornis huxleyi is the named species of Anchiornis, known from Late Jurassic fossils in China. It is the species represented by the genus's studied fossil material.
Feather: A feather is a keratin structure growing from the skin of birds and some extinct dinosaurs. Feather types and distribution across its body are central to interpreting Anchiornis.
Tiaojishan Formation: The Tiaojishan Formation is a Jurassic geological formation in northeastern China that preserves plants and vertebrate fossils. Anchiornis fossils are associated with this formation's deposits.
Dinosaur coloration: Dinosaur coloration is the study and reconstruction of colors and patterns in extinct dinosaurs. Anchiornis became an early case for inferring color from fossilized pigment structures.
Theropoda: Theropoda is a diverse group of mostly carnivorous dinosaurs that includes birds and their extinct relatives. Its paravian classification places Anchiornis within this broader dinosaur group.
Tianyulong: Tianyulong is a small ornithischian dinosaur from China known from fossils preserving long filamentous structures. Its preserved body covering offers a comparison beyond the theropod lineage of Anchiornis.
Melanosome: A melanosome is a pigment-containing organelle whose fossilized shape can preserve clues to ancient animal coloration. Melanosomes in its fossil feathers enabled estimates of plumage color.
Liaoning: Liaoning is a province in northeastern China renowned for exceptionally preserved Mesozoic fossils. Important Anchiornis specimens come from the region's fossil-bearing rocks.
Paleobiology: Paleobiology studies the biology and behavior of extinct organisms using fossils and geological context. Its preserved plumage lets researchers investigate more than skeletal form alone.

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