Pronunciation: jen-HWAHN-long
Meaning: Zhenyuan's dragon
Author/s: Lü and Brusatte (2015)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Liaoning Province, China
Discovery Chart Position: #902
Zhenyuanlong suni
Zhenyuanlong suni is the largest non-bird dinosaur that has ever been found with full-blown, bird-like wings. Although bigger feathered dinosaurs have been discovered, none have possessed such complex layers of quill pen-like feathers made up of fibrous branches stemming from a central shaft. However, they were attached to tiny arms that were hopeless for flight and may instead have been used for ostentatious displays to attract a mate, egg incubation, plain old warmth, or all three.
(Zhenyuan's dragon)Etymology
Zhenyuanlong is derived from "Zhenyuan" (for Zhenyuan Sun, a representative of the local museum who procured it from a Liaoning farmer who is not willing to reveal his identity)
and the Chinese "long" (dragon). The species epithet, suni, also honors Zhenyuan Sun.
Discovery
The remains of Zhenyuanlong were discovered in the Yixian formation, Sihedang of Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, China. The holotype (JPM-0008) is a nearly complete skeleton with skull and lower jaw, preserved on a slab of fissile siltstone.
