boxu

Boxu is a Chinese term that refers to a type of Chinese raptor from the Early Cretaceous period. The name "boxu" is derived from the Chinese words "bo" meaning "black" and "xu" meaning "head". This refers to the animal's black, feathered head.

Boxu was first discovered in the Jehol Group, a geological formation in northeastern China. The fossil remains of boxu were found in the Daohugou village of Inner Mongolia. The discovery of boxu's fossils in this area dates the species back to around 125-100 million years ago.

Initial studies of the boxu fossil led to speculation that it was a type of pterosaur, due to its relatively small size and distinctive head shape. However, further analysis revealed that boxu shared several characteristics with modern birds, including a wishbone-shaped collarbone and a unique arrangement of its forelimb proportions. These findings suggest that boxu belonged to the Dinosauria, and more specifically to the clade Maniraptora. The Maniraptorans include several well-known dinosaurs, such as Velociraptor and Oviraptor.

Boxu's fossils provide valuable information on the evolution and diversity of theropod dinosaurs. The discovery of boxu highlights the need for further research on the subject of early theropods like boxu, and sheds light on the lives of ancient Chinese predators.