description Yi qi (STM 31-2) Overview
STM 31-2 is the holotype fossil of Yi qi, a small scansoriopterygid dinosaur from Late Jurassic rocks in Hebei, China, described in 2015. The specimen preserves feathers and a long, rod-like wrist element associated with traces of a membranous flight surface, a combination not otherwise known in dinosaurs when it was reported. Yi was likely adapted for aerial movement, although studies have debated the precise shape and effectiveness of its wing.
help Yi qi (STM 31-2) FAQ
What made Yi qi's wings different from bird wings?
Yi qi had feathers, but its proposed flight surface also included a membrane supported by an elongated rod-like wrist bone. This arrangement is unlike the feather-dominated wings of birds and the finger-supported membranes of pterosaurs.
Could Yi qi actually fly?
Researchers agree that the preserved membrane was involved in aerial locomotion, but its precise shape and performance remain debated. Biomechanical studies generally portray Yi as a limited glider rather than a powerful long-distance flier.
How large was Yi qi?
Yi was a small scansoriopterygid dinosaur, roughly pigeon-sized in broad comparisons and weighing well under a kilogram in many reconstructions. Its compact skeleton contrasts sharply with the unusually long styliform wrist element.
Where and when was the Yi qi holotype found?
The holotype STM 31-2 comes from Late Jurassic rocks in Hebei Province, China. The fossil was formally described in 2015 and preserves bones, feathers, and traces interpreted as a membranous wing.
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