HOME | DD

Description
This unnamed Caudipteryx species is based on the specimens BPM 0001 and IVPP V 12340, which probably represent a distinct taxon from C. zoui and possibly C. dongi. The only noticeable skeletal difference you'll be able to spot here is the relative proportions of the wing claws. C. sp. has a very puny claw on digit 2 compared to its relatives. The skull is also a bit more robust than other Caudipteryx.

Externally, the main difference seems to be the size of the wings. Like the C. dongi holotype, feathers are preserved that seem to anchor at the distal ulna, granting it secondaries. The wing feathers are proportionally longer than in C. dongi and the wing is much, much longer and broader than that preserved in the C. zoui holotype (again, note the fact that C. zoui is still much larger than this specimen. I'll post an image of all of them together to scale eventually).

Overall, this species closely resembles Similicaudipteryx. It's even about the same size as the larger, young adult Yixian specimen (though the Jiufotang specimen is larger than any other caudipterid). The wing proportions appear to be the same in both, though Similicaudipteryx has a broader set of secondaries. More importantly, this species has a severely atrophied third finger, like all other Caudipteryx but unlike the well developed, clawed third finger of Similicaudipteryx. Still, this species appears to be morphologically "in between" the two genera, so I took the liberty of giving it a larger tail fan than in other Caudipteryx, about midway between the fan size in C. zoui and Similicaudipteryx.

You can read more about the various differences between Caudipteryx specimens and how many species there may be, here: [link]

This is the last in Caudipteryx for a while, unless you follow Paul 2010's taxonomy, in which case get ready for some serious ontogenetic mashups, kids!

Research: [link] and feather proportions after the photograph in Zhou, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, F., and Xu, X. (2000). "Important features of Caudipteryx - Evidence from two nearly complete new specimens." Vertebrata Palasiatica, 38(4): 241–254.

Description
This unnamed Caudipteryx species is based on the specimens BPM 0001 and IVPP V 12340, which probably represent a distinct taxon from C. zoui and possibly C. dongi. The only noticeable skeletal difference you'll be able to spot here is the relative proportions of the wing claws. C. sp. has a very puny claw on digit 2 compared to its relatives. The skull is also a bit more robust than other Caudipteryx.

Externally, the main difference seems to be the size of the wings. Like the C. dongi holotype, feathers are preserved that seem to anchor at the distal ulna, granting it secondaries. The wing feathers are proportionally longer than in C. dongi and the wing is much, much longer and broader than that preserved in the C. zoui holotype (again, note the fact that C. zoui is still much larger than this specimen. I'll post an image of all of them together to scale eventually).

Overall, this species closely resembles Similicaudipteryx. It's even about the same size as the larger, young adult Yixian specimen (though the Jiufotang specimen is larger than any other caudipterid). The wing proportions appear to be the same in both, though Similicaudipteryx has a broader set of secondaries. More importantly, this species has a severely atrophied third finger, like all other Caudipteryx but unlike the well developed, clawed third finger of Similicaudipteryx. Still, this species appears to be morphologically "in between" the two genera, so I took the liberty of giving it a larger tail fan than in other Caudipteryx, about midway between the fan size in C. zoui and Similicaudipteryx.

You can read more about the various differences between Caudipteryx specimens and how many species there may be, here: [link]

This is the last in Caudipteryx for a while, unless you follow Paul 2010's taxonomy, in which case get ready for some serious ontogenetic mashups, kids!

Research: [link] and feather proportions after the photograph in Zhou, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, F., and Xu, X. (2000). "Important features of Caudipteryx - Evidence from two nearly complete new specimens." Vertebrata Palasiatica, 38(4): 241–254.