Largest Microraptorine to date unearthed in China

The name?  Changyuraptor yangi.

This animal was discovered  in the Liaoning Province of northeastern China. The location has seen a surge of discoveries in feathered dinosaurs over the last decade. The newly discovered, remarkably preserved dinosaur sports a full set of feathers covering its entire body, including the extra-long tail feathers. "At a foot in length, the amazing tail feathers of Changyuraptor are by far the longest of any feathered dinosaur," 

Changyuraptor is by far the largest microraptorine dinosaurs yet discovered. Although weighing in at a mere 9 lbs. and stretching the tape measurer out to 4 feet, it's the largest of the 'four winged' dinosaurs.

'Four winged' refers to  the long feathers attached to the legs have the appearance of a second set of wings. In fact, the long feathers attached to both legs and arms of these ancient predators have led researchers to conclude that the four-winged dinosaurs were capable of flying - 

paleontologists believe that the discovery consolidates the notion that flight preceded the origin of birds, being inherited by the latter from their dinosaurian forerunners.

Co-author Dr Alan Turner of Stony Brook University had this to say on the notion:

“numerous features that we have long associated with birds in fact evolved in dinosaurs long before the first birds arrived on the scene. This includes things such as hollow bones, nesting behavior, feathers and possibly flight.” The new discovery explains the role that the tail feathers played during flight control. For larger flyers, safe landings are of particular importance.”

“It makes sense that the largest microraptorines had especially large tail feathers – they would have needed the additional control,” He added.

Clearly far more evidence is needed to understand the nuances of dinosaur flight, but Changyuraptor is a major leap in the right direction.