What specific geological age characterized the Late Jurassic epoch when Xiaotingia zhengi existed?
Answer
Tithonian age
The Tithonian age is the specific subdivision of the Late Jurassic epoch during which Xiaotingia zhengi lived. This places the creature temporally very close to the transition point separating the Jurassic Period from the subsequent Cretaceous Period. Understanding this precise timing is crucial because it situates the fossil record in a critical moment just before major global faunal shifts, allowing paleontologists to contextualize its anatomy against the backdrop of impending environmental and evolutionary changes at the close of the Jurassic.
Related Questions
What specific geological age characterized the Late Jurassic epoch when Xiaotingia zhengi existed?In which present-day Chinese province were the remains of Xiaotingia zhengi unearthed?Within which major clade is Xiaotingia specifically nested, placing it among the most bird-like dinosaurs?What characteristic leg bone proportion in Xiaotingia suggests an adaptation for running speed?Which family do some modern phylogenetic studies suggest Xiaotingia belongs within or directly alongside, grouping it with Anchiornis?What is the catalog designation for the holotype specimen of Xiaotingia zhengi used by scientists?How does the tail length of Xiaotingia generally compare to many other theropods of a similar evolutionary grade?Xiaotingia's proximity places it near the foundational split of which clade encompassing birds and dinosaurs more closely related to birds than Ornithomimosaurs?What complexity regarding trait acquisition does the placement of Xiaotingia suggest about features considered 'advanced' for bird origins?What does the significance of Xiaotingia lie more in, concerning its contribution to evolutionary studies?