In recent decades, fossil discoveries in China have revolutionized our understanding of dinosaurs. One example is the feathery raptor Zhenyuanlong from the early Cretaceous, a name which means "Zhenyuan's Sun Dragon" — after the man who discovered it.
National Geographic, in its profile of Zhenyuanlong, notes that although the creature was larger than other dromaeosaurs of the time and region, being about five feet long, it had well-developed feathers on the arms and tail, which were probably not used for flight. The arms were far too short, as were the multiple layers of feathers.
Many early raptors have been found to have protofeathers, a fuzz that probably developed to help insulate them. These protofeathers have supported arguments that these creatures were endothermic, since they helped to maintain a steady body temperature. But having complex feathers on such an animal is more difficult to explain. This has given rise to some theories that they may have improved grip, or were used to entrap prey. In any case, Zhenyuanlong is still being figured out, but it does have one of the coolest descriptions given to it by paleontologist Steve Brusatte per "Weird Dinosaurs": a "fluffy, feathered poodle from hell."
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