Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
332 / Mesozoic
Epidexipteryx
Epidexipteryx hui
Four long tail feathers displayed rather than powering flight.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 164–159 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Jurassic
- Geographic range
- Forested lakeshores · Inner Mongolia, China
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Epidexipteryx?
Epidexipteryx (Epidexipteryx hui) was an extinct organism known from About 164–159 million years ago, with a range in Forested lakeshores · Inner Mongolia, China.
Life and ecology
This small paravian used body feathers for insulation and probably caught insects with projecting teeth.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Epidexipteryx disappear?
Paravians diversified rapidly in the Jurassic, but a younger fauna does not by itself show that other forms replaced this display-specialized one.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Epidexipteryx?
A fine-grained slab preserves skeleton, body plumage and four ribbon-like tail feathers.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS