During which geologic interval did *Xiaotingia* live, estimated around 165 to 153 million years ago?
Answer
Middle to Late Jurassic periods
*Xiaotingia* existed during a significant transitional time in prehistory, specifically spanning the Middle to Late Jurassic periods, with age estimates centering around 165 to 153 million years ago, often approximated to 155 million years ago. This time frame places *Xiaotingia* within the context of the Yanliao Biota, which is renowned as a Lagerstätte noted for its exceptional preservation quality regarding early feathered dinosaurs found in China. This age bracket is noteworthy because it predates the slightly younger fossils associated with the more famous *Archaeopteryx* found in Germany, which date to about 144 million years ago, emphasizing *Xiaotingia*'s role earlier in the diversification process.
Related Questions
What is the holotype specimen ID for *Xiaotingia* found in the Tiaojishan Formation?Who was the genus name *Xiaotingia* chosen to honor regarding the holotype specimen?During which geologic interval did *Xiaotingia* live, estimated around 165 to 153 million years ago?What modern bird is *Xiaotingia*'s estimated size comparable to, given its small stature?What specific type of feather impressions were noted on the tibia and metatarsus of *Xiaotingia*?How did the femur length compare to the humerus length in *Xiaotingia*'s potentially flight-related arm structure?Which superorder assignment consistently includes *Xiaotingia* within the hierarchy leading to birds?Which grouping did the initial 2011 analysis controversially position *Xiaotingia* and *Anchiornis* within?Which clade did Senter et al. (2012) suggest *Xiaotingia* was the most primitive member of in a revised analysis?What evolutionary concept describes the acquisition of bird traits independently across several closely related lineages like those in the Yanliao Biota?What cranial feature does *Xiaotingia*'s shallow snout align it morphologically closer to, rather than basal avialans like *Jeholornis*?