Zhenyuanlong

Zhenyuan's dragon

• Zhenyuan · Chinese · named for Zhenyuan Zhang? (see notes)
• long · Chinese · dragon

The name combines "Zhenyuan" with the Chinese word "long", meaning dragon. It refers to a feathered dromaeosaurid with short arms and large wings made of feathers, found in Liaoning, China. The "Zhenyuan" part is commonly given as honoring Lü Junchang's colleague/the Zhenyuan? — treat with caution.

Named by

Lü and Brusatte

Year named

2015

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Aptian

Found in

Yixian Formation, Liaoning Province, China

A dromaeosaurid theropod with large feathered wings despite short arms; the type species is Zhenyuanlong suni. I am not certain of the origin of "Zhenyuan" (possibly the name of the person who discovered or donated the specimen or a place name), so that part is uncertain.