Protarchaeopteryx is a turkey-sized feathered dinosaur from China. Well-developed, vaned feathers extended from the short, stubby tail; the hands were long and slender. It appears to be one of the most primitive members of the Oviraptorosauria and the large incisor teeth suggest that it is closely related to Incisivosaurus. It was probably an herbivore or omnivore.
Protarchaeopteryx is probably more primitive than Archaeopteryx, making it a non-avian theropod dinosaur rather than a true avian bird. Protarchaeopteryx had symmetrical feathers on its arms. Since modern birds that have symmetrical feathers are flightless, and the skeletal structure of Protoarchaeopteryx would not support flapping flight, it is assumed that the Protoarchaeopteryx was flightless as well.
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In Popular Culture[]
Protoarchaeopteryx in Zoo Tycoon 2.
Protarchaeopteryx appears as one of many species of prehistoric animals that can be created in the game Zoo Tycoon 2.
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