Biology:Piscivorenantiornis
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
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 piscis ("fish") and vorare ("to eat"), denoting it as the first known piscivorous enantiornithine; the specific name derives from the Latin inusitatus ("extraordinary").[1] A second specimen of P. inusitatus (IVPP V23362) was described in 2020.[3]
Description
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
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
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe (2017-03-04). "A morphological study of the first known piscivorous enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China" (in en). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 37 (2). doi:10.1080/02724634.2017.1278702. ISSN 0272-4634. Bibcode: 2017JVPal..37E8702W. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2017.1278702.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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 (9): 1170–1176. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.02.055. PMID 27133872. Bibcode: 2016CBio...26.1170W. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)30137-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe (2020-05-03). "Anatomy of a New Specimen of Piscivorenantiornis Inusitatus (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota" (in en). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (3). doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1783278. ISSN 0272-4634. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2020.1783278.
- ↑ Wang, Min; Zhou, Zhonghe (2020-05-03). "Anatomy of a New Specimen of Piscivorenantiornis Inusitatus (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota" (in en). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (3). doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1783278. ISSN 0272-4634. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2020.1783278.
Wikidata ☰ Q56651066 entry
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