Microraptor is a small genus of four-winged dromaeosaurs from Asia during the Earrly Cretaceous. Microraptor consists of three species: M. zhaoianus, M. gui and M. hanqingi, with only M. gui appearing in Prehistoric Kingdom.
In-Game[]
Description[]
A small animal, similar in size to many modern day birds, Microraptor truly lives up to its name. Covered in jet-black feathers resembling a bower bird or crow, Microraptor is capable of powered flight using its wings while also being a skilled glider due to a pair of hind-wings on its back legs. Comparable to other dromeosaurs like Velociraptor, Microraptor even comes equipped with a miniature sickle claw common among its relatives, despite its size. Unlike modern birds, Microraptor demonstrates its roots as a proper non-avian dinosaur through its maw of small needle sharp teeth, clawed wings and a long boney tail adorned with a small tail fan.
Management[]
Microraptor is a Mini-Exhibit animal that does not have the ability to free roam inside of normal exhibits and must be placed inside of a Mini-Aviary instead. Microraptor are bred directly from the Mini-Aviary's menu rather than through the genetics lab.
In-Game Trivia[]
Nigel Marven
This handsome little fella is one of my personal favorites - the Microraptor!
Nigel Marven
Those tufts on its hind legs are not stylish trousers, they're actually flight feathers! With four wings full of delicate but vital flight feathers, these creatures have to be careful not to drag them on the ground and cause permanent damage.
Nigel Marven
That beautiful iridescent color of its feathers isn't actually pigment! It's a structural color, which means that the structure of the feather itself reflects light in such a way that it's perceived as a color. Hummingbirds do the same thing today!
Nigel Marven
I've always wanted to hand-feed one, but I don't want to chance one of these feisty creatures mistaking my finger for a tasty lizard. …Actually, I just need my old falconry gloves…
Paleontology[]
Microraptor was named in 2000 by paleontologist Xu Xing, and its name means "Small Thief". Microraptor had a troubled discovery. The first specimen was part of a chimera fossil which had been made up of three specimens: The tail of Microraptor, the head and upper body of a primitive bird called Yanornis and the legs and feed of a yet unknown animal. The doctored fossil was named "Archaeoraptor" and smuggled out of China to the USA in 1999 and presented as a "missing link" between dinosaurs and birds. Its announcement had caused doubts in the paleontological society, but it was not until 2002, three years after its discovery and two years after Microraptor had been named, that serious study was conducted on the fossil. The scandal brought attention to the illegal fossil market in China and the doctoring of fossils to make them appear more impressive, a similar fate that befell the Brazilian spinosaurid Irritator.
Paleoecology[]
When first discovered, Microraptor was originally thought to have not been able to use powered flight and instead was thought to glide between trees in a similar manner to Draco volans lizards and Gliding Squirrels. We now know it was likely more than capable of powered flight, however it could also still glide, just as most modern birds can. It is unknown if Microraptor could move quickly on the ground due to its leg wings possibly getting in the way, however some footprints that may belong to a Microraptor-like dromaeosaur in South Korea may provide some clues in this regard. The tiny raptor footprints are preserved extremely far apart for its size, and Dr. Thomas Holtz and colleagues hypothesized that the trackways were produced by a Microraptorine moving at a moderate speed with assistance from its wings, perhaps even capturing the small dinosaur in the process of takeoff or landing.
At 77 centimeters long and with a wingspan of a meter, Microraptor is one of the smallest known non-avian dinosaurs. It was a carnivorous animal which ate small mammals, lizards and birds, swallowing prey whole and producing pellets like modern day owls. Microraptor has been found in two fossil formations, the Jiufotang and Yixian formations, both in Liaoning in northeast China. Here it lived alongside a dazzling variety of animals, including various early birds, pterosaurs and various other dinosaurs, including Psittacosaurus. Many other kinds of Microraptorines lived alongside Microraptor, such as Changyuraptor, Wulong and Tianyuraptor. These animals varied in size and shape, suggesting they occupied different ecological niches.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Microraptor was one of the dinosaurs available in Prehistoric Kingdom’s alpha.
- Microraptor was the first dromaeosaurid to be added to Prehistoric Kingdom.
- Microraptor is the smallest animal in Prehistoric Kingdom so far.
- Microraptor was the first Mini-Exhibit animal confirmed for Prehistoric Kingdom, It was confirmed during the same announcement trailer as Deinocheirus and Nasutoceratops
- Microraptor was the first flying animal in Prehistoric Kingdom, the second being Archaeopteryx.
- The iridescent black skin chosen for Microraptor in Prehistoric Kingdom is more than just for style and glamour. A 2012 study on preserved Microraptor melanosomes shows that it in fact did have this color scheme in life.
- On April Fool's Day 2021, the official Prehistoric Kingdom Twitter account posted a photo of "Macroraptor", a greatly upscaled version of Microraptor. It was humorously said to be unlocked by renaming a Mini-Aviary to "gullible".
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