Pronunciation: am-BOH-tuh-riks
Meaning: Both wing
Author/s: Wang et al. (2019)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Liaoning Province, China
Acta Ordinal: #1010
Ambopteryx longibrachium
Ambopteryx longibrachium, discovered in 2019, is one of the clearest examples of how strange dinosaur evolution could be. This small scansoriopterygid lived about 163 million years ago in the forested landscapes of the Tiaojishan Formation in China. Its beautifully preserved skeleton shows a creature adapted for climbing and gliding among the trees.
Ambopteryx had elongated forelimbs, a very long third finger, and—most strikingly—a styliform bone extending from the wrist. Together, these structures supported a membranous wing, forming a gliding surface unlike anything in modern birds. Soft-tissue impressions confirm that this membrane stretched between the arm, hand, and styliform bone, creating a wing more reminiscent of a bat or colugo than a feathered dinosaur.
Its body was covered in simple feathers, and its short, deep skull carried small, peg-like teeth suited to an omnivorous diet. With its combination of climbing claws, lightweight skeleton, and gliding membrane, Ambopteryx likely moved through the canopy in short, controlled glides—an evolutionary experiment that flourished briefly before disappearing by the Early Cretaceous.
Ambopteryx had elongated forelimbs, a very long third finger, and—most strikingly—a styliform bone extending from the wrist. Together, these structures supported a membranous wing, forming a gliding surface unlike anything in modern birds. Soft-tissue impressions confirm that this membrane stretched between the arm, hand, and styliform bone, creating a wing more reminiscent of a bat or colugo than a feathered dinosaur.
Its body was covered in simple feathers, and its short, deep skull carried small, peg-like teeth suited to an omnivorous diet. With its combination of climbing claws, lightweight skeleton, and gliding membrane, Ambopteryx likely moved through the canopy in short, controlled glides—an evolutionary experiment that flourished briefly before disappearing by the Early Cretaceous.
(Both wing, with long upper arms)Etymology
Ambopteryx is derived from the Latin "ambo" (both) and the Greek "pteryx" (wing), referring to a combination of its membranous wings (like a bat), and its body plan and feathers (like a bird). The species epithet, longibrachium, is derived from the Latin "longus" (long) and "brachium" (upper arm).
Discovery
The remains of Ambopteryx were discovered in the Tiaojishan (aka Haifanggou) Formation near Wubaiding Village, Reshuitang Town, Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province, China.
The holotype (IVPP V24192) is an articulated and nearly complete skeleton with associated soft tissue preserved on a slab and a counter slab. The forelimbs are 1.3 times longer than the hindlimbs.
Preparator
D. Li from the IVPP.
