CNN —The fossil of a tiny bird-like dinosaur with surprisingly long lower legs has been discovered in China. However, in birds, it’s a feature also present in wading birds like storks and cranes, making it possible that Fujianvenator lived in a swampy aquatic environment. Other known early bird-like dinosaurs lived in trees and were more aerial in nature, the study said. While no feathers were preserved in the fossil, it’s highly likely Fujianvenator had them because its closest relatives in the dinosaur family tree did, Wang said. It can’t be determined from the fossil whether the bird-like dinosaur could fly or not, he added.

---

Persons: Fuijianvenator, Fuijian, Min Wang, “, ”, Wang Organizations: CNN, Vertebrate Paleontology, Fujian Institute of Geological Survey Locations: China, what’s, Fujian, Beijing