In Depth
The genus Similicaudipteryx was so named because of its similarity to the genus Caudipteryx (tail feather). Like with Caudipteryx, Similicaudipteryx had a covering of downy feathers all over the body, with vaned feathers on the arms and tail. The end of the tail had a pygostyle-like arrangement which supported a feather growth like in the aforementioned Caupdipteryx and the oviraptosaur Nomingia. The jaws of Similicaudipteryx curved downwards towards the end, which may have been an adaptation towards a specific style of feeding, though the exact diet is still unknown. Also like with Caudipteryx, there is uncertainty to how Similicaudipteryx is related to dinosaurs and birds, if indeed at all depending upon who you ask.
Further Reading
- A new genus and species of caudipterid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of western Liaoning, China - He Tao, Wang Xiaolin & Zhou Zonghe - 2008. - Exceptional dinosaur fossils show ontogenetic development of early feathers, X. Xu, X. Zheng & H. You - 2010. Moulting tail feathers in a juvenile oviraptorisaur - R. O. Prum - 2010.
