 |
| Fig. 1 Juehuaornis zhangi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, No. SJG 00001) |
Abstract
Here we report on a new basal ornithuromorph bird, Juehuaornis zhangi gen. et sp. nov., based on a nearly complete and articulated subadult skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Lingyuan of western Liaoning, China. It displays ornithomorph synapomorphies, such as a synsacrum composed of 12 sacral vertebrae, a short pygostyle, long and curved scapula, U - shaped furcula without a hypocleidum, coracoid with a developed procoracoid process and a concaved lateral margin, a keel extended along the full length of sternum, major and minor metacarpals fused proximally and distally, and proximal phalanx of digit II expanded caudally. The new specimen is distinguishable from other known ornithuromorphs by some unique features including a long rostrum
for approximately 70% the total length of the skull, cranial end of upper jaw hooked, and cranial end of lower jaw straight. The new specimen provides new important morphological information regarding Ornithomorpha, and it represents a new ecotype of this group．
Key words: Ornithuromorpha; Juehuaornis zhangi; Lower Cretaceous; Jiufotang Formation; Lingyuan; western Liaoning
 Fig. 1 Juehuaornis zhangi gen. et sp. nov. ( left: holotype, No. SJG 00001; right: Paratype, No. SJG 00001A) |
Ren-fei Wang, Yan Wang and Dong-Yu Hu, 2015. Discovery of A New Ornithuromorph Genus, Juehuaornis gen. nov. from Lower Cretaceous of western Liaoning, China. Global Geology. 2015(1): 7–11
