Dalingheornis is a genus of enantiornithean birds which lived during the early Cretaceous period, about 122 Ma ago, and are known from a single juvenile fossil found in the upper part of the Yixian Formation at Dawangzhangzi, Liaoning province, People's Republic of China. It is the first known Mesozoic bird with heterodactyl feet specifically adapted for climbing, and was probably among the most arboreal of the enantiornithines. Unlike its relatives, it had an unusually long (17mm) skeletal tail made up of 20 vertebrae, similar to the tails of dromaeosaurids. However, this may have been a juvenile feature. The fossil was named after Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut in space.[1]
Some sources have doubted the presence of heterodactyl feet in this genus. Lockley et al. (2007) found that its metatarsal II was not strongly curved inwards compared to other enantiornitheans, and they also noted that the supposed reversed second toe claw probably acquired that position after the animal died.[2] In 2009, Jingmai O'Connor considered Dalingheornis to be a nomen dubium due to its remains being stored in a private collection.[3] However, this proposal has been criticized by Mickey Mortimer, as Dalingheornis is a valid genus under ICZN guidelines despite its inaccessibility to paleontologists.[4]
References
^Zhang, Z.; Hou, L.; Hasegawa, Y.; O'Connor, J.; Martin, L.D.; Chiappe, L.M. (2006). "The first Mesozoic heterodactyl bird from China". Acta Geologica Sinica. 80 (5): 631–635.
^Lockley, Martin G.; Li, Rihui; Harris, Jerald D.; Matsukawa, Masaki; Liu, Mingwei (27 March 2007). "Earliest zygodactyl bird feet: evidence from Early Cretaceous roadrunner-like tracks". Naturwissenschaften. 94 (8): 657–665. Bibcode:2007NW.....94..657L. doi:10.1007/s00114-007-0239-x. PMID 17387416. S2CID 15821251.
^O'Connor, Jingmai (December 2009). "A systematic review of Enantiornithes (Aves: Ornithothoraces)". Dissertation.
^Mortimer, Mickey (26 September 2010). "Please DON'T ignore any taxa - A rebuttal to O'Connor and Dyke". The Theropod Database Blog.
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dalingheornis, genus, enantiornithean, birds, which, lived, during, early, cretaceous, period, about, known, from, single, juvenile, fossil, found, upper, part, yixian, formation, dawangzhangzi, liaoning, province, people, republic, china, first, known, mesozo. Dalingheornis is a genus of enantiornithean birds which lived during the early Cretaceous period about 122 Ma ago and are known from a single juvenile fossil found in the upper part of the Yixian Formation at Dawangzhangzi Liaoning province People s Republic of China It is the first known Mesozoic bird with heterodactyl feet specifically adapted for climbing and was probably among the most arboreal of the enantiornithines Unlike its relatives it had an unusually long 17mm skeletal tail made up of 20 vertebrae similar to the tails of dromaeosaurids However this may have been a juvenile feature The fossil was named after Yang Liwei the first Chinese astronaut in space 1 DalingheornisTemporal range Aptian 122 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClade SaurischiaClade TheropodaClade AvialaeClade EnantiornithesGenus DalingheornisZhang et al 2006Species D liweiiBinomial name Dalingheornis liweiiZhang et al 2006Description EditSome sources have doubted the presence of heterodactyl feet in this genus Lockley et al 2007 found that its metatarsal II was not strongly curved inwards compared to other enantiornitheans and they also noted that the supposed reversed second toe claw probably acquired that position after the animal died 2 In 2009 Jingmai O Connor considered Dalingheornis to be a nomen dubium due to its remains being stored in a private collection 3 However this proposal has been criticized by Mickey Mortimer as Dalingheornis is a valid genus under ICZN guidelines despite its inaccessibility to paleontologists 4 References Edit Zhang Z Hou L Hasegawa Y O Connor J Martin L D Chiappe L M 2006 The first Mesozoic heterodactyl bird from China Acta Geologica Sinica 80 5 631 635 Lockley Martin G Li Rihui Harris Jerald D Matsukawa Masaki Liu Mingwei 27 March 2007 Earliest zygodactyl bird feet evidence from Early Cretaceous roadrunner like tracks Naturwissenschaften 94 8 657 665 Bibcode 2007NW 94 657L doi 10 1007 s00114 007 0239 x PMID 17387416 S2CID 15821251 O Connor Jingmai December 2009 A systematic review of Enantiornithes Aves Ornithothoraces Dissertation Mortimer Mickey 26 September 2010 Please DON T ignore any taxa A rebuttal to O Connor and Dyke The Theropod Database Blog This prehistoric bird article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dalingheornis amp oldid 1150397823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
