'Fluffy feathered poodle from hell': Biggest ever winged dinosaur discovered in northeastern China

An ancient feathered creature dug up in northeastern China is the largest winged dinosaur ever found, researchers say.

The fossil of the prehistoric raptor is so well preserved scientists have been able to reconstruct its impressive plumage, from the tiny feathers on its head and neck, to the larger quill pen-like feathers that sprout from its tail and substantial wings.

A cousin of the velociraptor made famous by the Jurassic Park movies, the carnivore measuring two metres in length lived 125 million years ago in the region where dense forests became home to some of the first flowering plants.

Named Zhenyuanlong suni, the new species shared the land with a huge variety of other creatures. Dinosaurs were abundant, among them Yutyrannus huali, the "feathered tyrant". Beneath their feet lived salamanders, amphibians and plenty of mammals, including the badger-sized beast, repenomamus, which dined on dead dinosaurs.

The near complete skeleton of the feathered raptor was found in sedimentary rock that formed in ancient lake beds in Liaoning province. The Yixian formation there has become a treasure trove of exquisitely preserved dinosaurs, many of which sported feathers.

"It's the biggest dinosaur that has ever been found with wings," said Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist at Edinburgh University. "In general it is very bird-like, but it's big, and has these very short arms with full-blown wings."