Huaxiagnathus

Name Origin Meaning “Jaw of Huaxia”

The slightly unusual scientific name Huaxiagnathus was coined by combining respect for China, the place of discovery, with its physical characteristics.

• Huaxia: Derived from “Huaxia,” an ancient word meaning “China” or “Chinese.”
• Gnathus: Means “jaw” in Greek.

Putting these together, it literally translates to “Jaw of Huaxia.”
It was named as one of the representative predators of Early Cretaceous China.

“Large” for a Compsognathid at 1.8m

The notable points of this dinosaur are its size and feathers.

Largest in the Group

Its total length is estimated to be approximately 1.8 meters, and its weight around 30 kg.
Compared to its relatives, the European Compsognathus and the Chinese Sinosauropteryx, it is a size larger, placing it in the large category among this group.

Primitive Feathers

Its greatest feature is that almost its entire body was covered in thin, fiber-like “primitive feathers.”
This is important evidence showing that small theropods of that time had widely acquired feathers for purposes such as insulation.

Agile Runner with Long “Hands”

Huaxiagnathus had a body type suited for running around on the ground to hunt.

“Hands” Longer Than Arms

Although its total length is compact, it possesses very long limbs.
The structure of the forelimbs (arms) is particularly distinctive, and fossils reveal that the “hand section was longer than the arm section.”

Prey: Small Animals

Utilizing these long limbs and lightweight body, they were “agile hunters” that dashed quickly through the forests.
Their main prey included small animals such as lizards and mammals.
It is believed they were excellent predators that used their prized “jaws” and long hands to capture prey.