Juvenile Birds from the Early Cretaceous of China: Implications for Enantiornithine Ontogeny

Chiappe, Luis M.; Shu'an, JI; Ji, Qiang

doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2007)3594[1:jbftec]2.0.co;2

Cited by 67 publications

(64 citation statements)

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“…Although this is the first report of these sternal ossifications, they are preserved in previously described specimens 12 . GMV 2158 and NIGP-130723 preserve the lateral and caudal ossifications.…”

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confidence: 94%

Insight into the early evolution of the avian sternum from juvenile enantiornithines

et al. 2012

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The sternum is one of the most important and characteristic skeletal elements in living birds, highly adapted for flight and showing a diverse range of morphologies. new exceptional material of young juvenile specimens from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Group in northeastern China reveals the unique sequence of development in the sternum of Enantiornithes, the dominant clade of Cretaceous birds. We recognize six ossifications that together form the sternum, three of which were previously unknown. Here we show that although basal living birds apparently have retained the dinosaurian condition in which the sternum develops from a bilateral pair of ossifications (present in paravian dinosaurs and basal birds), the enantiornithine sternal body primarily develops from two unilateral proximo-distally arranged ossifications. This indicates that although superficially similar, the sternum formed very differently in enantiornithines and ornithuromorphs, suggesting that several ornithothoracine sternal features may represent parallelism. This highlights the importance of ontogenetic studies for understanding homology and the evolution of skeletal features in palaeontology.

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confidence: 94%

Insight into the early evolution of the avian sternum from juvenile enantiornithines

et al. 2012

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“…The ischia and sternum are not preserved. The small size of the individual, the lack of fusion of tarsometatarsus, tibiotarsus, and carpometacarpus, supports the interpretation that the individual corresponds to an early ontogenetic stage (Chiappe et al 2007;Carvalho et al 2015). However, fused vertebral centra, as well as well-defined epiphyses of long bones, extensive pubic apron, and absence of surface pitting, indicate that the individual was probably adult specimen (Sanz et al 1997).…”

Section: Aves Linnaeus 1758 Ornithothoraces Chiappe 1996 Enantiornithmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…From the flightless enantiornithine Elsornis, Cratoavis nov. gen. differs in several anatomical details, including a much more expanded and well-developed proximal end of the humerus, and a more gracile and straighter ulnar shaft (Chiappe et al 2007).…”

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as pointed out by Walker & Dyke (2009), in spite of the anatomical distinctiveness and ecological variability, the phylogenetic relationships among euenantiornithine genera still remains in state of flux, and little phylogenetic resolution has been achieved, lacking consensus about their interrelationships (Chiappe & Walker 2002;Chiappe et al 2007;O´Connor et al 2011aO´Connor et al , 2011bO´Connor et al , 2013. In this way, the position of Cratoavis nov. gen. within Euenantiornithes is unresolved, as indicated by Carvalho et al (2015).…”

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rounded humeral head differs from the saddle-shaped condition present in most Enantiornithes (e.g., Elsornis, Cathayornis, Concornis, Gobipteryx, Halimornis, Eoalulavis, Gurilynia, Otogornis, Hebeiornis, Gracilornis, Sulcavis, Sinornis, Martinavis, Elbretornis and Enantiornis;Sanz et al 1995Sanz et al , 2002Sereno et al 2002, Zhou & Hou 2002Chiappe et al , 2007Zhang et al 2004, Walker & Dyke 2009Li & Hou 2011;O´Connor et al 2013), a character that was considered as synapomorphy of enantiornithes by previous authors (O´Connor et al 2013). In Cratoavis nov. gen. the transverse ligamental groove and the capital groove of the humerus are poorly defined, which differs from the deep and well-defined groove present in Eoenantiornis (Zhou et al 2005) and Otogornis (Zhou & Hou 2002), and other derived forms (e.g., Concornis, Halimornis, Martinavis, Elbretornis and Enantiornis; Sanz et al 1995Walker & Dyke 2009).…”

Section: Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A new genus and species of enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil

et al. 2015

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ABSTRACT:The fossil record of birds in Gondwana is almost restricted to the Late Cretaceous. Herein we describe a new fossil from the Araripe Basin, Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen et sp., composed of an articulated skeleton with feathers attached to the wings and surrounding the body. The present discovery considerably extends the temporal record of the Enantiornithes birds at South America to the Early Cretaceous. For the first time, an almost complete and articulated skeleton of an Early Cretaceous bird from South America is documented. KEYWORDS:

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Avian Evolution

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Juvenile Birds from the Early Cretaceous of China: Implications for Enantiornithine Ontogeny

Cited by 67 publications

References 5 publications

Insight into the early evolution of the avian sternum from juvenile enantiornithines

Insight into the early evolution of the avian sternum from juvenile enantiornithines

A new genus and species of enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil

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