Xiaotingia zhengi

† Xiaotingia zhengi is a Late Jurassic scansoriopterygid or anchiornithid from the Yanliao Biota of China. Its phylogenetic placement as a non-avian theropod related to Archaeopteryx temporarily displaced the latter from the base of Avialae, sparking significant debate.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Xiaotingia zhengi 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 Middle Mesozoic Era

Xiaotingia zhengi lived during the Jurassic Middle period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 174.7 to 161.5 million years ago.

Dinosaur diversity continued to increase, with the evolution of large sauropods and diverse theropods. Stegosaurs first appeared, and the supercontinent Pangaea was breaking apart.