Jianchangornis
| Jianchangornis | ||||||||
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| Temporal occurrence | ||||||||
| Lower Cretaceous ( Aptium ) | ||||||||
| approx. 120 million years | ||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Jianchangornis | ||||||||
| Zhou , Zhang & Li , 2009 | ||||||||
| Art | ||||||||
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Jianchangornis is an extinct genus of ornithurae . The genus name is derived from the Jianchang districtand the Greek ornis "bird".
The only known species is called Jianchangornis microdonta . The species name is derived from the Greek mikros "small" and odous "tooth", a reference to the small teeth in the lower jaw.
It was named and described in 2009 by Zhou Zhonghe, Zhang Fucheng and Li Zhiheng.
remains
The fossil (holotype IVPP V 16708) was discovered in the Jiufotang Formation , which lies in what is now China. The remains are estimated to be around 120 million years old. The skull bones and the spine are not completely preserved. It is uncertain whether there are any teeth on the intermaxillary bone . The nasal bone is also incomplete and is slightly expanded in the middle. The teeth are roughly the same size and are generally small and conical in shape. The hind legs are almost completely preserved. The femur is long and slightly curved. The right foot is not completely preserved, but the left foot is almost complete. Remnants of the plumage have been preserved, but reveal little. Fish remains, including vertebrae and ribs, have been preserved near the holotype's left femur.
particularities
Jianchangornis were most similar to the Yanornis in height . They were smaller than Jeholornis and Sapeornis , but larger than other known ornithurines such as Yixianornis . From the findings of the fish remains it can be assumed that the genus was fish-eater. This would support the thesis that ornithurae have adapted to an environment near water.