Microraptor

Microraptor was a tiny dinosaur with an amazing trick — it had four wings! It had long feathers on both its arms and its legs. It lived about 120 million years ago in China. Microraptor was about the size of a pigeon.

Four Wings

Microraptor had long flight feathers on its arms and its back legs. This gave it four wing-like surfaces. Scientists think it glided between trees like a flying squirrel. It may have even been able to do some powered flying. Its feathers were black and had a shiny, rainbow shimmer.

A Tiny Hunter

Microraptor was only about 2 to 3 feet long and weighed less than 3 pounds. It ate small animals like lizards, fish, and birds. One fossil was found with a bird in its stomach! It had sharp claws for climbing trees and small, sharp teeth for catching prey.

Fun Facts

• Microraptor's feathers were iridescent black, shimmering like a crow's feathers in sunlight.
• One fossil was found with a small bird still in its stomach.
• It is one of the smallest dinosaurs ever discovered.

Did You Know?

Microraptor is the first dinosaur where scientists could figure out the exact color of its feathers. Special structures in the fossils show that it was shiny black with a blue-green shimmer!