‘Dinosaur’ and ‘cuddly’ are not usually words we put in the same sentence. But as scientists learn more about these fascinating prehistoric creatures, it’s being revealed that some of them were much more birdlike - and even cute - than we first imagined.

Most of the time we think of the bigger dinosaurs first - and it’s unlikely anyone would want to snuggle with a T-rex or a Gigantosaurus. But some of the smaller dinosaurs were pretty adorable. If you’ve ever been looking for family things to do in the UK and landed on the idea of going to a petting zoo, you may have cuddled chickens or ducks. We imagine cuddling any of the following dinosaurs would be similar.

Sinosauropteryx

The theropods are thought to have been the fluffiest of dinosaurs, and the Sinosauropteryx was a small, birdlike example that would have made a good cuddle companion. Described in 1996, one fossil of this little guy was so well preserved it showed the animal had a coat of hairlike feathers and a stripy tail. At 1.1 metres long, an adult Sinosauropteryx might have kept your arms full, but we bet the babies were super small and cute. 

Microraptor

Microraptor is one of the dinosaurs that features in our walking with dinosaurs theatre show, Dinosaur World Live. It was just 77cm long and had not two but four wings covered in shiny black feathers. It may have been able to fly, so it could perch on your shoulder as well as being cuddled. 

Chaoyangsaurus

This small dinosaur was a relative of the much larger Triceratops and lived a few million years before it. Discovered in China, it was more cuddly than its horned cousin, sporting a tufted tail and cute features such as large eyes and stubby snout. It was also a herbivore, so it wouldn’t try to snack on your fingers while you were petting it!

Mei

Mei was discovered in China in 2004, curled up in a sleeping position with its head tucked under its wing. It didn’t get much bigger than 80cm long (about the size of a modern duck) so was the perfect size for cuddling. It also had feathers, so would definitely have been comforting to stroke. 

Micropachycephalosaurus

It may not have the shortest name but the micropachycephalosaurus (pronounced mike-row-pak-ee-keff-a-low-sore-us) was small enough for a cuddle at just 60cm long. While it’s unlikely to have had feathers, it had large eyes and a short snout - a bit like Chaoyangsaurus - which would have made it cute to look at. Evidence suggests it was a sociable animal too, so may have been quite affectionate. 

If you like the thought of walking with dinosaurs live, don’t miss Dinosaur World Live, which is currently touring the UK. Introducing families to a host of prehistoric creatures, it’s a stage show that uses stunning puppetry to bring the Mesozoic world to life, and is perfect for kids aged three and up. Book your tickets today before they go extinct!