Open AccessA new, three‐dimensionally preserved enantiornithine bird (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from Gansu Province, north‐western China
Author(s) -
JI SHUAN,
ATTERHOLT JESSIE,
O'CONNOR JINGMAI K.,
LAMANNA MATTHEW C.,
HARRIS JERALD D.,
LI DAQING,
YOU HAILU,
DODSON PETER
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
zoological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1096-3642
pISSN - 0024-4082
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00671.x
Subject(s) - cretaceous , biology , taxon , china , paleontology , pelvic girdle , aptian , anatomy , geography , archaeology
In recent years, the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation has yielded approximately 100 avian partial skeletons, many with soft‐tissue traces, from sites in the Changma Basin of Gansu Province, north‐western China. The most abundant taxon amongst these is the ornithuromorph Gansus yumenensis , but enantiornithines have also been identified in the sample. Here we describe two incomplete, semi‐articulated appendicular skeletons, the first consisting of a partial left pelvic girdle and complete pelvic limb, and the second comprised of a nearly complete right pelvic limb. Both specimens bear characteristics diagnostic of Enantiornithes, and are referred to a new taxon, Qiliania graffini gen. et sp. nov. The exceptional, three‐dimensional preservation of these specimens (compared to the crushed, nearly two‐dimensional condition of most other Early Cretaceous avian fossils) reveals new information regarding enantiornithine anatomy, evolution, and diversity. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2011, 162 , 201–219.