Jianianhualong

Jianianhua dragon ("carnival dragon")

• Jianianhua · Chinese (pinyin) · carnival (jiānián huá)
• long · Chinese (pinyin) · dragon

The name combines the Chinese word "jianianhua", meaning "carnival", with "long", meaning "dragon", so it translates roughly as "carnival dragon". It was coined for a small feathered troodontid from the Early Cretaceous of northeastern China. The type species is Jianianhualong tengi.

Named by

Xu et al.

Year named

2017

Period

Early Cretaceous

Found in

Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province, China

A troodontid theropod known from a feathered specimen. It is notable for asymmetrical feather vanes on the tail and arms, which are unusual in troodontids. The exact etymological reference of "Jianianhua" is given here only in its literal sense of "carnival".