New information on the Hind limb feathering, soft tissues and skeleton of <i>Microraptor</i> (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae)

doi:10.1186/s12862-025-02372-0

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	*New information on the Hind limb feathering, soft tissues and skeleton of Microraptor* (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae)**
	Chotard, Matthieu 1; Wang, Xiaoli 3,4; Zheng, Xiaoting 3,4; Kaye, Thomas G.2; Grosmougin, Maxime 1; Barlow, Luke 1; Kundrat, Martin 5; Dececchi, T. Alexander 6; Habib, Michael B.7; Zariwala, Juned 8; Hartman, Scott 9; Xu, Xing10,11 ; Pittman, Michael 1
	2025-04-24
发表期刊	BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
卷号	25 期号:1 页码:29
通讯作者	Wang, Xiaoli(wang_7355@163.com) ; Zheng, Xiaoting(ty4291666@163.com) ; Pittman, Michael(mpittman@cuhk.edu.hk)
摘要	BackgroundMicroraptor is known as the most significant example of extended feathering on the legs of a paravian, both fossil and modern. Its striking difference with most paravians contributes to the multiple theories on the function of its conspicuous hind limbs. Recent studies tried to uncover its evolutionary significance, but its anatomy has only been described from a small number of samples.ResultsThrough the analysis of 16 specimens of Microraptor, including 8 previously undescribed specimens, here we provide new information on the structure and number of hindwing feathers within a revised feather taxonomy, including a revised shape of the hindwing Microraptor which displays feathers all along the hind limb, except along its pedal digits. Here we describe in detail 6 feather types: metatarsal remiges, long metatarsal coverts, long femoral feathers as well as the first description of long tibial feathers, anterior coverts and minor coverts. Our study of specimens BMNHC PH881 and STM 5-5, 5-75, 6-62 and 6-86 is partially consistent with previous work, but the key difference in this study is a proximal shift of the triangular wing portion formed by the long tibial feathers and the long metatarsal coverts that outlines the joint between the tibiotarsus and metatarsus. This configuration does not exist in any extant or fossil bird, or in any other non-avian paravian described so far, underscoring the uniqueness of Microraptor. Unlike previous reconstructions, here the long metatarsal coverts display an asymmetrical close-vanned structure as in the metatarsal remiges. The feathers as preserved are posteriorly projected along the metatarsus and vary between medioposterior and lateroposterior projection along the tibial feathers.ConclusionsThe overall configuration of feather layers is only found in Microraptor, and the two layers of elongated and asymmetrically vaned feathers linked to the metatarsus are more reminiscent of the forewing of modern birds than of any leg in other fossils and modern taxa. These new observations allow us to better understand the flight, non-flight locomotion and hunting strategies of this iconic 'four-winged' dinosaur suggesting Microraptor had a complex behaviour that made it adapted to arboreal and terrestrial habitats.
关键词	Microraptor Theropod Paravians Feathered dinosaur Anatomy Leg Feathering Flight evolution
DOI	10.1186/s12862-025-02372-0
关键词[WOS]	MODERN AQUATIC BIRDS ; SEXUAL-MATURITY ; JEHOL GROUP ; DINOSAUR ; EVOLUTION ; FLIGHT ; ARCHAEOPTERYX ; CHINA ; BODY ; SPECIMEN
收录类别	SCI
语种	英语
资助项目	Research Grant Council of Hong Kong's General Research Fund[17120920] ; Research Grant Council of Hong Kong's General Research Fund[17103315] ; Research Grant Council of Hong Kong's General Research Fund[14116623] ; Research Grant Council of Hong Kong's General Research Fund[14113824] ; Faculty of Science and School of Life Sciences of The Chinese University of Hong Kong ; Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province[Ts20190954] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[42288201] ; Slovak Research and Development Agency[APVV-18-0251] ; Slovak Research and Development Agency[APVV-21-0319] ; Scientific Grant Agency VEGA of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic[1/0259/25] ; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, SPring-8[2017B-1755] ; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, SPring-8[2018B-1543] ; Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program[202305AB350006]
项目资助者	Research Grant Council of Hong Kong's General Research Fund ; Faculty of Science and School of Life Sciences of The Chinese University of Hong Kong ; Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province ; National Natural Science Foundation of China ; Slovak Research and Development Agency ; Scientific Grant Agency VEGA of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic ; Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, SPring-8 ; Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program
WOS研究方向	Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Evolutionary Biology ; Genetics & Heredity
WOS类目	Ecology ; Evolutionary Biology ; Genetics & Heredity
WOS记录号	WOS:001474341200001
出版者	BMC
引用统计
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.205/handle/311034/24776
专题	中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所
通讯作者	Wang, Xiaoli; Zheng, Xiaoting; Pittman, Michael
作者单位	1.Chinese Univ Hong Kong, Sch Life Sci, Shatin, Hong Kong, Peoples R China 2.Fdn Sci Advancement, Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 USA 3.Linyi Univ, Inst Geol & Paleontol, Linyi 276005, Shandong, Peoples R China 4.Shandong Tianyu Museum Nat, Pingyi 273300, Shandong, Peoples R China 5.Pavol Jozef Safarik Univ, Ctr Integrat Paleobiol Technol & Innovat Pk, SK-04011 Kosice, Slovakia 6.Dakota State Univ, Div Nat Sci, Madison, SD USA 7.Univ Calif Los Angeles, David Geffen Sch Med, Los Angeles, CA USA 8.Univ Lincoln, Coll Hlth & Sci, Sch Life & Environm Sci, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln, England 9.Univ Wisconsin, Dept Integrat Biol, Madison, WI USA 10.Yunnan Univ, Ctr Vertebrate Evolutionary Biol, Sch Life Sci, Kunming 650504, Peoples R China 11.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Vertebrate Paleontol & Paleoanthropol, Key Lab Vertebrate Evolut & Human Origins, Beijing 100044, Peoples R China
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Chotard, Matthieu,Wang, Xiaoli,Zheng, Xiaoting,et al. New information on the Hind limb feathering, soft tissues and skeleton of Microraptor (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae)[J]. BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION,2025,25(1):29.
APA	Chotard, Matthieu.,Wang, Xiaoli.,Zheng, Xiaoting.,Kaye, Thomas G..,Grosmougin, Maxime.,...&Pittman, Michael.(2025).New information on the Hind limb feathering, soft tissues and skeleton of Microraptor (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae).BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION,25(1),29.
MLA	Chotard, Matthieu,et al."New information on the Hind limb feathering, soft tissues and skeleton of Microraptor (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae)".BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 25.1(2025):29.