Piscivorenantiornis
| Piscivorenantiornis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Clade: | Avialae |
| Clade: | †Enantiornithes |
| Genus: | †Piscivorenantiornis Wang, Zhou & Sullivan, 2016 |
| Type species | |
| Piscivorenantiornis inusitatus Wang, Zhou & Sullivan, 2016
| |
Piscivorenantiornis is a genus of enantiornithine bird from the Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China. It is known from a single species, P. insusitatus.[1]
History of discovery
[edit]The holotype of Piscivorenantiornis (IVPP V22582), was discovered near Dapingfang in Chaoyang County, Liaoning, China, in sediments identified as belonging to the Jiufotang Formation.[1][2] Piscivoreantiornis' genus name is derived from the Latin pisci ("fish") and vor ("to eat"), denoting it as the first known piscivorous enantiornithine; the species name derives from the Latin inusitatus ("extraordinary").[1] A second specimen of P. inusitatus (IVPP V23362) was described in 2020.[3]
Description
[edit]Piscivorenantiornis was a small enantiornithine.[1] The sternum resembles bohaiornithids in some regards, though its lateral trabecula lacks the strong lateral deflection that characterises them. It preserves a pair of craniolateral processes absent in most other enantiornithines. The articular sulci of the coracoid are widely spaced. The pubic boot is large and its tip is strongly recurved.[1][4]
Taxonomy
[edit]In the paper describing Piscivorenantiornis, it nested either alongside Pterygornis, or outside of a clade comprising Pterygornis and Dunhuangia.[1] In a paper published four years later, it was recovered in outside of a clade comprising Mirusavis and Shangyang.[3]
Paleobiology
[edit]The holotype of Piscivorenantiornis was found alongside a spindle-shaped arrangement of fish bones, likely belonging to the genus Lycoptera. Due to its shape and proximity, and a lack of fish bones elsewhere on the slab, it is believed that this structure represents a gastric pellet that was regurgitated shortly prior to its death.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe (2017-03-04). "A morphological study of the first known piscivorous enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 37 (2): e1278702. doi:10.1080/02724634.2017.1278702. ISSN 0272-4634.
- ^ a b Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe; Sullivan, Corwin (2016). "A fish-eating enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China provides evidence of modern avian digestive features". Current Biology. 26.: 1170–1176.
- ^ a b Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe (2020-05-03). "Anatomy of a New Specimen of Piscivorenantiornis Inusitatus (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (3). doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1783278. ISSN 0272-4634.
- ^ Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe (2020-05-03). "Anatomy of a New Specimen of Piscivorenantiornis Inusitatus (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (3). doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1783278. ISSN 0272-4634.