Huaxiagnathus was a small, agile carnivore. It was a member of the Compsognathid family, and a pretty large member of that family, roughly half a metre longer than Compsognathus, which it also resembled.
Huaxiagnathus had nearly identical bone structure to Compsognathus and Sinosauropteryx, but its forelimbs were proportionally larger and more developed, implying a higher involvement in prey acquisition and feeding. The holotype is a nearly complete, well-preserved skeleton, with only the last sections of the tail lacking.
Find out more facts about Huaxiagnathus.
1: Huaxiagnathus quick facts:
Name: Huaxiagnathus (Greek for “China Jaw”); pronounced Hwax-ee-ag-nath-us
When it lived: Early Cretaceous, 125 million years ago
Type of dinosaur: Small Theropod
Habitat: Terrestrial habitats.
Length/Weight: 1.8 meter/unknown
Distinguishing Characteristics: Possessing an extremely long posterior premaxillary process that overlaps the antorbital fossa.
Named by: Hwang et al. (2004)
2: How do you pronounce ‘Huaxiagnathus’?
The name Huaxiagnathus should be pronounced “Hwax-ee-ag-nath-us.”
3: What does the name Huaxiagnathus mean?
Huaxiagnathus derives its name from the Chinese Hua Xia, a traditional word for “China,” and the Greek gnathos, Latinised into gnathus, which means “jaw.”
4: What Did Huaxiagnathus Look Like?
The fossils of Huaxiagnathus indicate that the dinosaur genus was the most primitive compsognathid genus. In regards to the premaxilla, however, they were distinct from other compsognathids. The teeth of these dinosaurs indicate that they were carnivores. It is likely that the Huaxiagnathus had feathers.