Ambopteryx longibrachium

†Ambopteryx longibrachium was an extraordinary scansoriopterygid theropod from the Late Jurassic (~163 Ma) of Inner Mongolia, China. About the size of a starling, it possessed bat-like membranous wings supported by an elongated wrist bone (styliform element) rather than feathers. Named by Wang et al. in 2019, it represents a unique and rapidly extinct experiment in non-avian dinosaur flight.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Ambopteryx longibrachium was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Ambopteryx longibrachium lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161,5 to 145,0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.