| Sinosauropteryx | |
|---|---|
 Sinosauropteryx in true colors | |
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kingdom: |
Animalia: |
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Phylum: |
Chordata |
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Class: |
Reptilia |
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Superorder: |
Dinosauria |
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Order: |
Saurischia |
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Suborder: |
Theropoda |
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Family: |
†Compsognathidae |
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Genus: |
†Sinosauropteryx |
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Species: |
†S. prima (type) |
Sinosauropteryx was a genus of coelurosaur theropod dinosaur.
Description[]
Sinosauropteryx was fairly small, reaching maximum lengths of only about a meter. It had a similar appearance to Compsognathus, as it was closely related.
Diet[]
Sinosauropteryx ate small, quick creatures like lizards and mammals. These creatures have even been preserved inside a specimen's stomach.
Color[]
Sinosauropteryx was the first dinosaur to have its true color determined. Close examination with an electron microscope revealed that the dinosaur's melanosomes were preserved, meaning that the color of the creature could be determined by the shapes of the melanosomes. It was revealed that Sinosauropteryx was colored a russet color, with whitish-gray rings on the tail.