New information on Hongshanornithidae (1 Viewer)

Zheng, O'Connor, Wang, Zhang & Wang, 2014


New Information on Hongshanornithidae (Aves: Ornithuromorpha) from a New Subadult Specimen

Describes a new species: Tianyuornis cheni and gives new information on Hangshanornithidae.


pdf: http://www.ivpp.cas.cn/cbw/gjzdwxb/xbwzxz/201405/P020140509396191177060.pdf

Yesterday I could not give the abstract of the paper, now I can. Here it is.

We report on a new species of basal ornithuromorph bird, Tianyuornis
cheni gen. et sp. nov., based on a nearly complete and articulated
subadult individual from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in the
eastern region of Nei Mongol, China. The new specimen shows features
characteristic of the Hongshanornithidae (Hongshanornis longicresta,
Longicrusavis houi, and Parahongshanornis chaoyangensis), such as
small body size and elongate hindlimbs relative to their forelimbs,
but it also possesses some unique features that support the erection
of a new genus and species, including a straight dentary (a sigmoidal
dentary was previously considered an autopomorphy for
hongshanornithids), teeth preserved on both upper and lower jaws,
sternal caudolateral trabecula has a distinct fan-shaped expanded
distal end. With the addition of this new taxon, Hongshanornithidae
represent the most diverse recognized clade of Early Cretaceous
ornithomorphs. The new specimen reveals new important morphological
information regarding the Hongshanornithidae and confirms the
controversial presence of teeth in this clade.