Scientists Discover Jian changmaensis in China

A new feathered gliding dinosaur named Jian changmaensis was announced on 4 June 2026 in a study published in Annals of Carnegie Museum. The 120-million-year-old fossil was found in the Changma Basin in Gansu province, northwestern China.

Classification of Microraptors

Jian changmaensis belongs to Microraptoria, a group of small predatory theropod dinosaurs within the broader dromaeosaurid family. Microraptors are known from the Early Cretaceous period and are closely related to Velociraptor.

Feather Structure and Gliding Adaptation

The fossil shows long feathers on both the forelimbs and hind limbs, which gave the animal a four-winged appearance. Scientists classify this body plan as an adaptation for gliding rather than powered flight. The estimated wingspan of the dinosaur was about four feet, a size comparable to a barn owl. The four-winged form is also seen in other microraptor fossils from northeastern China.

Changma Basin and Early Cretaceous Fossils

The Changma Basin is known for Early Cretaceous vertebrate fossils, including bird remains such as Gansus yumenensis. The basin has also yielded clusters of broken bird bones that have been linked to predatory activity in the same ecosystem. Jian changmaensis is the only confirmed microraptor fossil found outside northeastern China. This record extends the known geographical range of microraptors within Asia.

Important Facts for Exams

• Microraptors are feathered theropod dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous period.
• Four-winged dinosaurs had long feathers on both the forelimbs and hind limbs.
• The Changma Basin is located in Gansu province in northwestern China.
• Gansus yumenensis is an Early Cretaceous bird fossil from China.

The fossil of Jian changmaensis dates to about 120 million years ago. The specimen is the first confirmed microraptor fossil from outside northeastern China.