Juramaia Coloring Pages

A tiny, tiny "first mammal" that lived in the age of dinosaurs!

Juramaia was a tiny, tiny creature that lived a very long time ago, when there were lots of dinosaurs around. It was about the size of a mouse. People think it is a very old ancestor to today's mammals.

When did it live?

Juramaia lived about 160 million years ago in a period called the Jurassic. This was a super exciting time when huge dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Juramaia lived quietly right beneath the feet of those big dinosaurs!

A super small body!

Juramaia had a really tiny body.

• Without its tail, it was only about 7 to 10 centimeters long. That is about the same size as a mouse today!
• It weighed only about 15 grams.

Did it live in trees?

From the shape of its leg and foot bones, experts think Juramaia probably lived up in the trees. It might have climbed trees to look for insects, tiny creatures, and seeds to eat. Being up in the trees was also a safe place to hide from huge dinosaurs!

What did it eat?

Juramaia probably ate tiny insects, bug eggs, and seeds. It had small, sharp teeth to help it eat.

Was it active at night?

Juramaia might have hidden in trees during the day and come out to look for food at night. To find food in the dark, it probably had great senses of smell and hearing.

A big step for mammals!

Juramaia is the oldest known mammal relative to have a placenta, a special body part for growing babies. With a placenta, mothers could grow babies larger inside their bellies before giving birth. Just like most mammals today, this was a super important step for staying alive!

What does the name Juramaia mean?

In English, we write Juramaia as "Juramaia". This name brings together "Jurassic" and the Greek word "maia". "Maia" means "mother". So its name means "Jurassic mother"! This shows that Juramaia was like a very important first mother to today's mammals.

Where were its fossils found?

Fossils of Juramaia were found in China. The bones were found in great condition. Thanks to that, we learned a lot about how Juramaia looked and lived!

How to Choose Colors: Pick natural colors to hide in the trees!

Juramaia was a small animal that survived the age of the dinosaurs. So, natural colors that help it hide in tree trunks and leaves will look great on it!

• Body colors: Try brown (light brown, reddish brown, or dark brown), gray (light gray or brownish gray), or even beige or cream, which look like a mix of those colors.
• Tummy color: Use a slightly lighter color for the tummy (like light beige or cream). This makes Juramaia look soft, round, and extra cute!
• Eyes: Color its round eyes with a dark black. Leave a little white spot for light to make them look alive!
• Nose: Make its tiny nose pink or light brown to make it look super cute.
• Ears: Color the ears the same color as the body, or a little darker. Mix in a little pink inside the ears to give them a soft feel.
• Tail, hands, and feet: Color them the same as the body, or slightly darker to make them look strong.

Let's show the fluffy fur!

Juramaia was a mammal, so scientists think it had fur on its body. There are not many fur lines in this picture, but you can color it by imagining its soft, fluffy fur!

• If you use colored pencils: Don't press too hard! Gently overlap short lines to make it look fluffy. Layering a few shades of brown and gray will add a nice deep look.
• If you use crayons: Try to color gently and evenly.

How to make it look 3D: Think about shadows and light!

Even on Juramaia's tiny body, some parts catch the light and some parts stay in the shade. Places that stay in the shade:

• Under the chin and the bottom of the tummy
• Where the hands and feet connect to the body, and other curved-in parts
• If you use a slightly darker color in these places, Juramaia will look soft and 3D!
• For places that catch the light, like the back or the top of the head, leave them a little brighter or use a lighter color to make it look even more 3D.

Tips to enjoy your coloring page!

• Color it any way you like!
  • You don't have to stick to real colors. Color it the way you want and think, "It would be fun if a Juramaia looked like this!" A colorful Juramaia would be super cute, too!
• Try adding a background!
  • Draw the tree branches and leaves where Juramaia lived, or a forest at night to bring your picture to life! Drawing little insects or stars in the night sky is super fun, too.