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

Ornithuromorpha

Enantiornithes

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. Bibcode2024CrRes.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. Bibcode2021GeoM..158.2087X. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354585552. 

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