Abstract
A new enantiornithine birdLongipteryx chaoyangensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Chaoyang, western Liaoning Province. This new bird is distinguishable from other known enantiornithines in having uncinate processes in ribs, elongate jaws, relatively long wings and short hindlimbs, and metatarsal IV longer than metatarsals II and III. This new bird had probably possessed (i) modern bird-like thorax which provides firm attachment for muscles and indicates powerful and active respiratory ability; (ii) powerful flying ability; (iii) special adaptation for feeding on aquatic preys; and (iv) trochleae of metatarsals I–IV almost on brate heterocoelous. Distal region of sternum with well developed carina and lateral processes. Uncinate processes present but not fused with ribs. At least 6 rows of gastraliae present. Carpometacarpus not completely fused, minor metacarpal longer than major one; second phalanx the same level, an adaptation for perching. The new bird represents a new ecological type different from all known members of Enantiornithes. It shows that enantiornithines had probably originated earlier than the Early Cretaceous, or this group had experienced a rapid radiation right after it first occurred in the early Early Cretaceous.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Feduccia, A., The Origin and Evolution of Birds, New Haven and London: Yale Univ. Press, 1999, 1–466.
Walker, C. A., New subclass of birds from the Cretaceous of South America, Nature, 1981, 292: 51.
Sereno, P. C., Rao, C.-G., Early evolution of avian flight and perching: new evidence from the Lower Cretaceous of China, Science, 1992, 255: 845.
Martin, L. D., The Enantiornithines: terrestrial birds of the Cretaceous (ed. Peters, D. S.), Cour. Forchungsinst, Senckenb, 1995, 181: 23.
Zhou, Z.-H., Discovery of Early Cretaceous birds in China (ed. Peters, D. S.), Cour. Forchungsinst, Senckenb, 1995, 181: 9.
Chiappe, L. M., The first 85 million years of avian evolution, Nature, 1997, 378: 349.
Zhang, F., Zhou, Z., A Primitive enantiornithine bird and the origin of feathers, Science, 2000, 290: 1955.
Sanz, J. L., Chiappe, L. M., Perez-Moreno, B. P. et al., An early Cretaceous bird from Spain and its implications for the evolution of avian flight, Nature, 1996, 382: 442.
Zhou, Z., Wang, X., A new species ofCaudipteryx from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning, northeast China, Vert PalAsiat, 2000, 38(2): 111.
Zhou, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, F. et al., Important features ofCaudipteryx-evidence from two nearly complete new specimens, Vert PalAsiat, 2000, 38(4): 241.
Chiappe, L. M., Ji, S., Ji, Q. et al., Anatomy and systematics of the Confuciusornithidae (Theropoda: Aves) from the late Mesozoic of northeastern China, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 1999, 242: 1.
Hou, L., Zhang, J., A new fossil bird from Lower Cretaceous of Liaoning, Vert PalAsiat, 1993, 31(3): 217.
Fedde, M. R., Peripheral control of avian respiration, Fed. Proc., 1970, 29: 1664.
Vanden Berge, J. C., Zweers, G. A., Myologia (eds. Baumel, J. J., King, A. S., Breazile, J. E. et al.), Handbook of Avian Anatomy: Nomina Anatomica Avium, 2nd ed., Cambrige: Publications of the Nuttal Ornithologica Club No. 23, 1996, 189–250.
Romer, A. S., Parsons, T. S., The Vertebrate Body, 5th ed., Chicago: W B Saunders Company, 1977, 146–215.
Jones, T. D., Farlow, J. O., Ruben, J. A. et al., Cursoriallity in bipedal archosaurs, Nature, 2000, 406: 716.
Zhang, F., Hou, L., Ouyang, L., Osteological microstructure ofConfuciusornis: preliminary report, Vert PalAsiat, 1998, 36(2): 126.
Zhang, F., Xu, X., Lu, J. et al., Some microstructure difference amongConfuciusornis, Alligator and a small theropod dinosaur, and its implications, Palaeoworld, 1999, 11: 296.
Gao, W., Avian Taxology (in Chinese), Changchun: Northeast Normal University Press, 1992, 1–319.
Zheng, G., Ornithology (in Chinese), Beijing: Beijing Normal University Press, 1995, 1–585.
Gill, F. B., Ornithology, 2nd ed., New York: W. H. Freeman, 1995, 65–92.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, F., Zhou, Z., Hou, L. et al. Early diversification of birds: Evidence from a new opposite bird. Chin.Sci.Bull. 46, 945–949 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900473
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02900473