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A newly identified species of dinosaur is the largest ever discovered to have a well-preserved set of bird-like wings, research shows. Paleontologist working in China unearthed the fossil remains of the winged dinosaur - a close cousin of Velociraptor. Researchers say its wings - which are very short compared to other dinosaurs in the same family - consisted of multiple layers of large feathers.
Although larger feathered dinosaurs have been identified before, none have possessed such complex wings made up of quill, pen-like feathers, the team says. Scientists have known for some time that many species of dinosaur had feathers, but most of these were covered with simple filaments that looked more like hair than modern bird feathers. The discovery suggests winged dinosaurs with larger and more complex feathers were more diverse than previously thought. The newly discovered species - named Zhenyuanlong suni - grew to more than 5 feet in length, and dense feathers covered the dinosaur’s wings and tail.Image credit: Chuang Zhao
