| Cathayornis yandica
Taxonomy: Class Aves, Subclass Enantiornithes, Superorder Euenantiornithes,
Order Cathayornithiformes, FamilyCathyornithidae
Geological Time: Lower Cretaceous, Aptian age (100 to 120 million
years old)
Size: 90 mm long (tip of skull to tip of toes), 72 mm across at
wings. Matrix: 113 mm by 154 mm
Fossil Site: Jiufotang Formation, Chaoyang, Liaoning Province,
China
Item: RV001
Price: $2700.00
Remarks: Early Cretaceous birds from the lacustrine deposits of
Western Liaoning Province are well known for their exceptional
diversity, abundance, and degree of preservation. This one is the
Enanthiorinine Cathayornis yandica. The Enantiornithine birds at
one time were the dominant group of birds during the Cretaceous,
only to go the way of the dinosaurs by the end of the period. Their
name is derived in the meaning “opposite birds” due
to a reverse articular arrangement between the scapula and the
coracoid from the typical birds of today. The fusion of the foot
bones is also opposite from modern birds. Cathayornis derives its
genus name from the word Cathay, an ancient term for China. Paul
Sereno, et. al. have synonymized this one with Sinornis, but not
all researchers agree. Cathayornis (or Sinornis) is one of the
few early Cretaceous birds known from over a dozen nearly complete
examples. This one is quite well preserved, with an intact skull.
While they are known to be toothed, the teeth are not readily apparent
here. The wing claws are visible, particularly in the left wing.
Such specimens are now rarely seen after the Chinese banned exports.
The specimen was aquired by a collector some 10 years ago.
Reference: Zhou, Zhonghe, Hou, Lianhai (2001) "The Discovery
and Study of Mesozoic Birds in China" in "Mesozoic Birds:
above the heads of dinosaurs". Chiappe and Witmer, ed. 2001,
University of California Press
|
