The microraptor is a small, feathered theropod dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. It was one of the first dinosaurs to be discovered with feathers, and it is thought to be an ancestor of birds. The name microraptor means “small thief”, and refers to its small size and long tail. Microraptors were among the first dinosaurs to be found with evidence of feathers, which are thought to have been used for flight or thermal insulation.
Microraptors were small animals, with most species measuring less than 1 meter (3 feet) in length from head to tail. They had long tails and very short legs, which may have been adapted for tree-climbing. Microraptors also had large eyes and sharp teeth, which suggest that they were predators. Some species of microraptor had colorful plumage, which may have been used for camouflage or courtship displays.
Microraptors are known from fossils found in China and Mongolia. The first microraptor fossil was discovered in 2000, and since then over a dozen different species have been identified. The most well-known species is Microraptor gui, which was described in 2003 on the basis of several well-preserved specimens.