Dilong

emperor dragon

• di · Chinese · emperor
• long · Chinese · dragon

The name comes from Chinese words meaning "emperor" (di) and "dragon" (long). It was chosen for this small, early tyrannosauroid, whose name reflects its status as an early relative of the "tyrant" tyrannosaurs. Dilong is notable because its fossils preserve filament-like feathers (protofeathers), showing that early tyrannosauroids had feathery coverings.

Named by

Xu et al.

Year named

2004

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Aptian

Found in

Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province, China

Type species is Dilong paradoxus. A basal tyrannosauroid, about 1.5 m long in the type specimen. Preserved filamentous integument.