Abstract: 聽We re-examine the partial skeleton of the enigmatic small feathered theropodYixianosaurus聽longimanus聽from the Lower Yixian Formation, China. A phylogenetic analysis recovers聽Yixianosaurus聽as a basal maniraptoran, in a polytomy withAlvarezsaurus, Therizinosauria, Alvarezsauroidea excluding聽Alvarezsaurus, and a well-resolved clade of derived maniraptorans including Oviraptorosauria and Paraves. The blend in聽Yixianosaurus聽of primitive traits, such as a low brachial index and robust digit III, and derived traits such as a subrectangular coracoid,聽suggests a more complicated mosaic of forelimb evolution within Maniraptora than previously proposed. The robust forelimb bones and massive, recurved, and pointed manual unguals suggest聽Yixianosauruswas predatory, although this assessment remains tentative until more complete fossils of this taxon are found. The basal maniraptoran phylogenetic position implies a larger range of forelimb morphologies at this point in coelurosaurian evolution. In many ways, the robust forelimb and hypertrophied recurved unguals are similar to those of聽Tanycolagreusand聽Coelurus,聽and may be morphologically transitional between these taxa and basal therizinosaurs and oviraptorosaurs. The presence of large, veined, pennaceous contour feathers on聽Yixianosaurus聽indicates the origin of these integumentary structures may be deeper in coelurosaur phylogeny than previously reported. Finally, the robust, elongate forelimbs suggest a different ecological role than inferred for other sympatric small theropods, and lend support to the idea of niche partitioning among the small non-avian theropods of the Jehol聽fauna.聽