Similicaudipteryx yixianensis

† Similicaudipteryx yixianensis is an Early Cretaceous oviraptorosaurian from the Yixian Formation of China, known from juvenile specimens. Notably, younger individuals show pennaceous tail fan feathers while older ones display broader vaned feathers.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivore

Similicaudipteryx yixianensis had a varied diet that included both plants and animals. Omnivorous dinosaurs were versatile feeders, able to exploit multiple food sources, which gave them an advantage in changing environments.

Time Period

Cretaceous Early Mesozoic Era

Similicaudipteryx yixianensis lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145.0 to 100.5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.