'Bizarre' long-legged bird-like dinosaur in China has scientists enthralled

Scientists said they have unearthed in Fujian province the fossil of a Jurassic Period dinosaur they named Fujianvenator prodigiosus. - Reuters

BEIJING (Reuters): About 148 to 150 million years ago, a strange pheasant-sized and bird-like dinosaur with elongated legs and arms built much like wings inhabited southeastern China, with a puzzling anatomy suggesting it either was a fast runner or lived a lifestyle like a modern wading bird.

Scientists said on Wednesday (Sept 6) they have unearthed in Fujian Province the fossil of a Jurassic Period dinosaur they named Fujianvenator prodigiosus - a creature that sheds light on a critical evolutionary stage in the origin of birds.