Caihong juji

† Caihong juji ('rainbow with a big crest') was a small, feathered dromaeosaurid-grade theropod from the Late Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of China. Remarkable for preserving evidence of iridescent hummingbird-like plumage coloration in fossilized melanosomes, it possessed an elaborate bony head crest and asymmetric flight feathers on its hind limbs as well as its forelimbs. Its discovery advanced understanding of plumage evolution and aerodynamic experimentation in early paravian theropods.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Caihong juji 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

Caihong juji 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.