2 FEATHERED DINOSAURS FROM NORTHEASTERN CHINA

Current controversy over the origin and early evolution of birds centr es on whether or not they are derived from coelurosaurian theropod din osaurs. Here we describe two theropods from the Upper Jurassic/Lower C retaceous Chaomidlanzi Formation of Liaoning province, China. Although both theropods have feathers, it is likely that neither was able to f ly. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that they are both more primitive than the earliest known avialan third), Archaeopteryx. These new fossi ls represent stages in the evolution of birds from feathered, ground-l iving, bipedal dinosaurs.