Tiny magpie-sized dinosaurs with bat-like wings lived in China 163 million years ago, scientists say after discovery of new fossil

The fossil was discovered in China and thought to be about 163 million years old

Newly discovered species is further proof of tiny dinosaurs with bat-like wings 

The membrane wings were previously unknown among theropod dinosaurs

Study shows that, as they were beginning to fly, dinosaurs closely related to birds were experimenting with a range of different wing structures

By VICTORIA BELL FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 18:01, 8 May 2019 | UPDATED: 08:26, 9 May 2019

The fossil of a newly discovered dinosaur adds further evidence to the theory that there was once a species with bat-like wings living 163 million years ago. 

Scientists have found remains of a dinosaur, named Ambopteryx longibrachium, in Liaoning Province, China.

Chinese scientists found that the magpie-sized therapod had a long wrist bone that likely supported membranous wings, which may have allowed it to glide between trees. 

The discovery of the unusual wing has only been seen once among theropods, a dinosaur characterised by their three-toed limbs.  

A previous specimen, also found in China, was described by scientists in 2015 and named Yi qi, after the Mandarin for 'strange wing'.

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