The almost complete fossilized specimen of a dinosaur found in China has led scientists to surmise this one wore camouflage colors to escape larger predators.

The small but colored "Psittacosaurus" is the first dinosaur that shows evidence of "countershading," a type of camouflage where animals have darker-colored backs and lighter bellies. This particular specimen is believed to have had a brown back and a lighter colored belly.

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Scientists believe this specimen was probably countershaded due to its preferring a habitat in dense forests with little light to create disruptive coloration. Psittacosaurus have stubby spikes on its cheeks and a beaked jaw. A mass of quills sprouted along its tail.

This countershading can be seen in modern species of forest-dwelling deer and antelope whose stripes and spots on their limbs create disruptive coloration. Giraffes are also good examples of countershading.

Psittacosaurus ("parrot lizard") is a genus of extinct ceratopsian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of what is now Asia, existing between 123.2 and 100 million years ago. It is notable for being the most species-rich dinosaur genus.

Up to 11 species are known from across Mongolia, Siberia, China and possibly Thailand. The species of Psittacosaurus vary in size but its length ranged from less than two to over three meters.

"This one is unique," said paleontologist Jakob Vinther of Britain's University of Bristol, co-author of a study describing the fossil published in the journal Current Biology.

"We can very clearly see that there are color patterns ... stripes, spots."

Psittacosaurus's dark back and lighter belly are visible on the specimen's remaining scales. Scientists said today's predators rely on an object's shading to assess its shape.

When prey is darker on top than on the bottom, a color scheme known as countershading, shadows are minimized and the animals look flatter.

TagsPsittacosaurus, countershading, parrot lizard, china, Jakob Vinther