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An Early Cretaceous Avialian Bird, Shenzhouraptor sinensis from Western Liaoning, China
Author(s) -
Qiang Ji,
Shu'an Ji,
Hailu You,
Jianping Zhang,
Hongbin Zhang,
Nanjun Zhang,
Chongxi Yuan,
Xinxin Ji
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
acta geologica sinica ‐ english edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1000-9515
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2003.tb00106.x
Subject(s) - yixian formation , manus , cretaceous , china , biology , geography , zoology , paleontology , archaeology , mesozoic , structural basin
This paper describes an avialian bird from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Yixian county, western Liaoning, China, which is named as Shenzhouraptor sinensis by Ji et al. on July 15,2002. Shenzhouraptor sinensis is characterized by no teeth in its mouth, the forelimbs longer than the hindlimbs, a long tail with more than 23 caudal vertebrae, U‐shaped wishbone, and remiges longer than the total length of ulna and manus. It is certain that the new avialian bird is really capable of powerful flight, representing a missing link between theropod dinosaurs and birds.