Biology:Omnivoropterygidae

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Short description: Extinct family of dinosaurs

Omnivoropterygids
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 124.5–120 Ma
(possible Late Cretaceous record)
Fossil specimen of Sapeornis chaoyangensis, Hong Kong Science Museum
Scientific classification e
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Animalia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Chordata
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Dinosauria
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Saurischia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Theropoda
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Avialae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Avebrevicauda
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Omnivoropterygidae
Czerkas & Ji, 2002
Type species
Omnivoropteryx sinousaorum
Czerkas & Ji, 2002
Genera
Synonyms
  • Sapeornithidae Zhou & Zhang, 2006

Omnivoropterygidae (meaning "omnivorous wings") is a family of primitive avialans known exclusively from the Jiufotang Formation of China , though putative omnivoropterygids are known from the Maevarano Formation of the Maastrichtian of Madagascar .[1] They had short skeletal tails and unusual skulls with teeth in the upper, but not lower, jaws. Their unique dentition has led some scientists to suggest an omnivorous diet for them.[2] The family was named by Stephen A. Czerkas & Qiang Ji in 2002, though its junior synonym Sapeornithidae is often used instead, though it was named four years later in 2006.[3] It is the only named family in the order Omnivoropterygiformes.

References

  1. O'Connor and Forster, 2010. A Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) avifauna from the Maevarano Formation, Madagascar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30(4), 1178-1201.
  2. Czerkas, S. A. & Ji, Q. (2002). "A preliminary report on an omnivorous volant bird from northeast China." In: Czerkas, S. J. (editor): Feathered Dinosaurs and the origin of flight. The Dinosaur Museum Journal 1: 127-135. HTML abstract
  3. Hu, D., Li, L., Hou, L., and Xu, X. (2010). "A new sapeornithid bird from China and its implication for early avian evolution." Acta Geologica Sinica, (English Edition) 84(3): 472-482. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2010.00188.x

Wikidata ☰ Q7090423 entry