Lightest theropod dinosaur

The lightest theropod dinosaur (excluding birds, which are nowadays classed as living theropod dinosaurs) was Anchiornis huxleyi, a feathered species that weighed no more than 250 g and as little as 110 g. It was formally described and named in 2009, based upon two specimens obtained from the Tiaojishan Formation of Liaoning Province, China. It existed just over 160 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period. Many additional specimens have since been discovered and are housed in several museums in and outside China.

In 2010, the distribution of pigment cells visible in an exceptionally well-preserved specimen of this species was studied, as a result of which an accurate picture of its colouration in life was obtained. This revealed that it was predominantly grey and black, but sported a rufous crest with a grey base and front, rufous speckles upon its otherwise black-plumed face, and bold black and white stripes across its wings.