Linhenykus Dinosaur is an extinct genus of theropod dinosaur that existed in the Late Cretaceous Period. It is classified in its own family, the Linhenykidae, though some studies have placed it among the Alvarezsauridae or in a closely related family. Linhenykus was a small, feathered, winged dinosaur that was found in the Djadochta Formation in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.
Linhenykus was approximately 75 cm (2.5 ft) in length, with a large body size for a non-avian theropod dinosaur.Its head was characterized by an enlarged naris, reduced eyes, and a large palatal structure. The forelimbs were reconstructed as relatively short with three digits. The hindlimbs were stronger and longer, with four digits. Linhenykus had short wings, and its feathers were dark. It appears to have been well adapted for flight but was too small to fly.
Linhenykus Facts :
| Name: | Linhenykus Dinosaurs |
| Size: | 2.5 feet |
| Main Facts: | Linhenykus lived in the Late Cretaceous Period in Asia, approximately 80-70 million years ago. |
Linhenykus is not known for certain, but it is likely that it fed on insects, such as locusts, as well as small vertebrates such as lizards and mammals. With its short wings, Linhenykus was capable of short flights and was able to scope out potential prey from the air. Its short wings were also suited for maneuverability in tight spaces, such as tree canopies or burrows. The most unique feature of Linhenykus is its small but powerful jaws, which were capable of crushing small bones.
This adaptation likely made it a predator of small vertebrates, such as lizards and mammals. Its powerful jaws and the large palatal structure also suggest it was able to crack mollusk shells for food. It is the only known representative of its family, the Linhenykidae, and the only known member of the Alvarezsauridae to have wings. Linhenykus is an important fossil because it sheds light on the evolution of flight in non-avian theropods and suggests that theropods may have already evolved flight before the transition from non-avian to avian dinosaurs during the Late Cretaceous.
