Aurornis xui

† Aurornis xui was a Middle Jurassic paravian from Liaoning Province, China, proposed as one of the oldest known birds. This small carnivore measured approximately 50 cm and displayed a mosaic of avian and non-avian features. Its phylogenetic position near the base of Avialae makes it critical for understanding the dinosaur-to-bird transition.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Aurornis xui 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

Aurornis xui 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.