Sinocalliopteryx (meaning 'Chinese beautiful feather') is a genus of carnivorous compsognathid theropod dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China (Jianshangou Beds, dating to 124.6 Ma).

The generic name is derived from Sinae, Latin for the Chinese and Greek καλός, kalos, "beautiful", and πτέρυξ, pteryx, "feather".

The large size of this "giant compsognathid" lent Sinocalliopteryx its specific name, gigas, meaning 'giant'.

[1] The holotype, JMP-V-05-8-01, was discovered at Hengdaozi, in Sihetun, in Liaoning Province, from the Jianshangou Beds of the Yixian Formation dating from the Barremian-Aptian, about 125 million years old.

Only six, larger, teeth were present in the maxilla of the holotype specimen but the number of its tooth positions could not be adequately determined.

[1][2] The vertebral column consisted of eleven cervical, twelve dorsal, five sacral and at least forty-nine caudal vertebrae.

[1] Like many other theropods of the Yixian Formation, Sinocalliopteryx was preserved with "protofeathers," simple filamentous integument (hairlike structures covering the skin), very similar to that found in Sinosauropteryx.

The integument of Sinocalliopteryx differ in length across the body, with the longest protofeathers covering the hips, base of the tail, and back of the thighs.

Siamraptor Siamotyrannus Streptospondylus Xuanhanosaurus Poekilopleuron Piveteausaurus Piatnitzkysaurus Marshosaurus Leshansaurus Eustreptospondylus Condorraptor Asfaltovenator Sciurumimus Nedcolbertia Magnosaurus Duriavenator Afrovenator Compsognathus longipes Compsognathus corallestris Torvosaurus tanneri Torvosaurus gurneyi Megalosaurus Scipionyx Wiehenvenator Iberospinus Baryonychinae Spinosaurinae Allosauroidea (Incl.

[1] In 2024, Andrea Cau published a study on the phylogenetics of Compsognathids that called the assessment of Sinocalliopteryx into question.

[2] While the leg part, about one foot long, is very large in relation to the abdominal cavity, it is clearly situated within it, lying between the ribs.

This discovery indicated that Sinocalliopteryx may have been an agile, active, "fierce" predator, especially since other compsognathids have been found with (presumably fast-moving) lizards and small mammals in their abdominal cavities.

Other theropods, such as Caudipteryx and a Mongolian ornithomimid, were also found with gastroliths, though in those cases the stones were much more numerous and smaller in size.

Disarticulated bones were found, in front of the lower ischia, identified as belonging to at least two individuals of Confuciusornis sanctus, a basal bird that is very common in the formation.

The bone surface of the scapula looked as if it had been etched by stomach acid for about thirteen days, leading to the conclusion the birds were swallowed later and in quick succession.