Story highlights Fossil of mule-sized dinosaur with wings and feathers found in China

It's a close relative of the velociraptor

China has become a treasure trove for dinosaur hunters in recent decades

Beijing (CNN) Around 125 million years ago, a mule-sized dinosaur with a long tail and short, resplendently-feathered wings roamed a corner of what is now northeastern China.

Researchers revealed the discovery of Zhenyuanlong suni, a close relative of its far more famous cousin -- the velociraptor, after publishing a photo of a remarkably preserved fossil.

The relic shows the complete skeleton of the animal, as well as its skull displayed in profile. Clearly visible around the creature's short arms are a pattern of long feathers, which also appear to have decorated the dinosaur's tail.

"The cool thing here is that it is a dinosaur that looks a lot like a bird," says Stephen Brusatte, a Scotland-based paleontologist who is one of the co-authors of the report.

The discovery has left scientists with a question.

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