Sinosauropteryx represents one of the most important discoveries, in the field of dinosaurs, in recent years. It is a small carnivore, of the compsognathid group, half a dozen specimens of which have come to light in northeastern China. The main feature of the animal, apart from the long tail characteristic of the group, are the “protopenne.” These structures are still debated among scholars, but they prove that the evolutionary path of dinosaurs was as complex as ever, with the appearance of structures such as feathers, protopenne and fur at different periods and in different localities. Again, the dinosaur was reconstructed three-dimensionally with the help of computer technology.

The sinosauropteryx represents one of the most important discoveries in paleontology in recent years. It is a small carnivore belonging to the group of Compsognatidae and has been identified from half a dozen specimens found in North East China.

Its most important characteristics are the “protopenne” on its long tail. These structures are still the subject of debate among scholar’s but prove that the evolutionary development of dinosaurs has been very complex with feathers, protopenne and hair appearing at different times in different zones. In this instance the fossil has been reconstructed by computer aided modeling.