From which specific geological formation was the fossil Xiaotingia zhengi unearthed?
Answer
Tiaojishan Formation in western Liaoning, China
The fossil specimen of Xiaotingia zhengi was discovered in the Tiaojishan Formation, which is geographically located in western Liaoning, China. This formation is significant because it hosts numerous feathered dinosaur fossils that have been crucial in understanding the dinosaur-to-bird transition period. The specific geological context helps date the creature and places it among other contemporaneous fauna used in reconstructing the ecosystem of the time. The location itself underscores the rich paleontological window provided by this region for studying early avian relatives.
Related Questions
What specific Deinonychosaur characteristic did Xiaotingia zhengi retain?From which specific geological formation was the fossil Xiaotingia zhengi unearthed?What comparison was made between the size of Xiaotingia zhengi and Archaeopteryx?What anatomical proportion in Xiaotingia hinted at musculature necessary for flapping locomotion?What radical suggestion did the initial phylogenetic analysis imply regarding the diet of primitive birds?Which shared skeletal feature supported the initial grouping of Archaeopteryx with Deinonychosaurs?Which scientist voiced reservations, suggesting the conclusions about Archaeopteryx demotion were over-hyped?What characteristic of Xiaotingia zhengi's feathers was noted on its femur and suggested possible hindlimb wing use?What inherent risk in evolutionary study does relying too heavily on Archaeopteryx demonstrate?What core difficulty in classification does the contrasting anatomy of Xiaotingia force researchers to confront?