Name:
Sinornithoides (Greek for "Chinese bird form"); pronounced SIGH-nor-nih-THOY-deez
Habitat:
Woodlands of Asia
Historical Period:
Early Cretaceous (130 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 3 feet long and 5-10 pounds
Diet:
Meat
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Feathers; long tail; sharp teeth
About Sinornithoides:
Known from a single specimen--which was found in a curled-up posture, either because it was sleeping or because it was huddling to protect itself from the elements--Sinornithoides was a small, agile, feathered theropod that resembled a (much) smaller version of the more famous Troodon. Like other troodonts, as they're called, Sinornithoides probably feasted on a large selection of prey, ranging from insects to lizards to its fellow dinosaurs.
