Biology:Imparavis

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Imparavis (meaning "odd bird") is an extinct genus of enantiornithean birds from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian-aged) Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The genus contains a single species, I. attenboroughi, known from a well-preserved skeleton.[1]

Discovery and naming

Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 408: Malformed coordinates value. The Imparavis holotype specimen, STM11-176, was discovered in sediments of the Jiufotang Formation near Toudaoyingzi village in Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, China. The holotype is preserved on a single slab, consisting of an articulated, nearly complete specimen, preserved in ventral view. It is missing part of the vertebral column and most of the gastralia. Faint feather traces are visible around parts of the skeleton.[1]

In 2024, Wang et al. described Imparavis attenboroughi as a new genus and species of enantiornithean bird based on these fossil remains. The generic name, "Imparavis", combines the Latin words "impar", meaning "odd", and "avis", meaning "bird". The specific name, "attenboroughi", honors David Attenborough and his work with natural history presentation and wildlife preservation.[1]

Classification

In their phylogenetic analyses, Wang et al. (2024) recovered Imparavis as a member of the Enantiornithes, as the sister taxon to Yuornis in a clade of edentulous genera also containing Gobipteryx. A close relationship between Gobipteryx and Yuornis was also supported in the scientific description of the latter.[2] The results of the analyses of Wang et al. are shown in the cladogram below, with toothless taxa highlighted.[1]

 
 

†Jeholornis prima

 
 
 

†Confuciusornithiforms

 
 
 

†Sapeornis

 
Ornithothoraces
 

Euornithes

 
 
 

Eopengornis

 
 
 

Pengornis

 
 

Chiappeavis

 
 
 
 
 

Elsornis

 
 
 
 

Vescornis

 
 
 

Parabohaiornis

 
 

Bohaiornis

 
 
 
 
 

Eoenantiornis

 
 
 
 

Eocathayornis

 
 
 

Qiliania

 
 

Enantiophoenix

 
 

Shenqiornis

 
 
 

Feitianius

 
 

Neuquenornis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eoalulavis

 
 
 

Concornis

 
 

Cathayornis

 
 
 
 
 
 

Gobipteryx

 
 
 

Imparavis

 
 

Yuornis

 
 
 
 
 

Iberomesornis

 
 
 
 

Shanweiniao

 
 

Longipteryx

 
 
 
 

Rapaxavis

 
 

Longirostravis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See also

  • List of bird species described in the 2020s

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wang, Xiaoli; Clark, Alexander D.; O'Connor, Jingmai K.; Zhang, Xiangyu; Wang, Xing; Zheng, Xiaoting; Zhou, Zhonghe (2024-02-27). "First Edentulous Enantiornithine (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Avifauna". Cretaceous Research 159 (in press). doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105867. ISSN 0195-6671. Bibcode: 2024CrRes.15905867W. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667124000405. 
  2. ↑ Xu, Li; Buffetaut, Eric; O'Connor, Jingmai; Zhang, Xingliao; Jia, Songhai; Zhang, Jiming; Chang, Huali; Tong, Haiyan (November 2021). "A new, remarkably preserved, enantiornithine bird from the Upper Cretaceous Qiupa Formation of Henan (central China) and convergent evolution between enantiornithines and modern birds" (in en). Geological Magazine 158 (11): 2087–2094. doi:10.1017/S0016756821000807. ISSN 0016-7568. Bibcode: 2021GeoM..158.2087X. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354585552. 

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