Liaoxiornis is a dubiousgenus of enantiornithine bird. The only named species is Liaoxiornis delicatus, described by Hou and Chen in 1999.[1] Because the species was named for a hatchling specimen, it cannot be matched with adult specimens, and so it is impossible to determine which, if any, birds from the same rocks represent adults of this species. Luis Chiappe and colleagues therefore regarded it as a nomen vanum ("empty name") or at least a nomen dubium, and recommended that use of the name be abandoned.[2]
Fossil of Liaoxiornis delicatus, at Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, VeniceAnother fossil of Liaoxiornis delicatus, at Museo Geominero de Madrid
Historyedit
In 1999, Hou and Chen of the Nanjing Institute of Paleontology and Geology briefly described a specimen of very small bird obtained by the museum and named it Liaoxiornis delicatus. One month later, another specimen, obtained by the National Geological Museum of China (Beijing), was named by Li and Li as Lingyuanornis parvus.[3] Soon afterwards, it was found that both museums had obtained different slabs of exactly the same specimen; because Liaoxiornis delicatus was named slightly earlier, that name takes precedence.[4]
The type specimen is complete and articulated, and while it has mature flight feathers, features such as bones tipped in cartilage, small breastbone, large head and eye and unfused skeleton indicate that it was a juvenile. Zhou and Hou (2001) assigned it to the group Enantiornithes, and described it as being equally as advanced as Cathayornis.[5] Several other specimens of juvenile enantiornithines have been found in the same strata, but because all of them are juveniles, it is impossible to discern whether or not they represent the same species, and later authors have suggested that the taxon should be ignored as invalid for this reason.[2]
Referencesedit
^Hou, L., Chen, P.-J. (1999) "Liaoxiornis delicatus gen. et sp. nov., the smallest Mesozoic bird. Chinese Science Bulletin 44(9):834-838.
^ abChiappe, L.M., Ji S. and Ji Q. (2007). "Juvenile Birds from the Early Cretaceous of China: Implications for Enantiornithine Ontogeny." American Museum Novitates, 3594: 46pp.
^Ji, Qiang, Ji, S.-A. (1999) "A new genus of the Mesozoic birds from Lingyuan, Liaoning, China". "Chinese Geology" 262:45-48.
^Chiappe, Luis, Walker, Cyril A. (2001) "Euenantiornithes" in "Mesozoic Birds: above the heads of dinosaurs". Chiappe and Witmer, ed. 2001, University of California Press
^Zhou, Zhonghe, Hou, Lianhai (2001) "The Discovery and Study of Mesozoic Birds in China" in "Mesozoic Birds: above the heads of dinosaurs". Chiappe and Witmer, ed. 2001, University of California Press
This prehistoric bird article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
liaoxiornis, dubious, genus, enantiornithine, bird, only, named, species, delicatus, described, chen, 1999, because, species, named, hatchling, specimen, cannot, matched, with, adult, specimens, impossible, determine, which, birds, from, same, rocks, represent. Liaoxiornis is a dubious genus of enantiornithine bird The only named species is Liaoxiornis delicatus described by Hou and Chen in 1999 1 Because the species was named for a hatchling specimen it cannot be matched with adult specimens and so it is impossible to determine which if any birds from the same rocks represent adults of this species Luis Chiappe and colleagues therefore regarded it as a nomen vanum empty name or at least a nomen dubium and recommended that use of the name be abandoned 2 LiaoxiornisTemporal range Early Cretaceous 122 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Clade Dinosauria Clade Saurischia Clade Theropoda Clade Avialae Clade Enantiornithes Genus LiaoxiornisHou amp Chen 1999 Species L delicatus Binomial name Liaoxiornis delicatusHou amp Chen 1999 Synonyms Lingyuanornis Ji amp Ji 1999 Lingyuanornis parvus Ji amp Ji 1999 Fossil of Liaoxiornis delicatus at Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia Venice Another fossil of Liaoxiornis delicatus at Museo Geominero de MadridHistory editIn 1999 Hou and Chen of the Nanjing Institute of Paleontology and Geology briefly described a specimen of very small bird obtained by the museum and named it Liaoxiornis delicatus One month later another specimen obtained by the National Geological Museum of China Beijing was named by Li and Li as Lingyuanornis parvus 3 Soon afterwards it was found that both museums had obtained different slabs of exactly the same specimen because Liaoxiornis delicatus was named slightly earlier that name takes precedence 4 The type specimen is complete and articulated and while it has mature flight feathers features such as bones tipped in cartilage small breastbone large head and eye and unfused skeleton indicate that it was a juvenile Zhou and Hou 2001 assigned it to the group Enantiornithes and described it as being equally as advanced as Cathayornis 5 Several other specimens of juvenile enantiornithines have been found in the same strata but because all of them are juveniles it is impossible to discern whether or not they represent the same species and later authors have suggested that the taxon should be ignored as invalid for this reason 2 References edit Hou L Chen P J 1999 Liaoxiornis delicatus gen et sp nov the smallest Mesozoic bird Chinese Science Bulletin 44 9 834 838 a b Chiappe L M Ji S and Ji Q 2007 Juvenile Birds from the Early Cretaceous of China Implications for Enantiornithine Ontogeny American Museum Novitates 3594 46pp Ji Qiang Ji S A 1999 A new genus of the Mesozoic birds from Lingyuan Liaoning China Chinese Geology 262 45 48 Chiappe Luis Walker Cyril A 2001 Euenantiornithes in Mesozoic Birds above the heads of dinosaurs Chiappe and Witmer ed 2001 University of California Press Zhou Zhonghe Hou Lianhai 2001 The Discovery and Study of Mesozoic Birds in China in Mesozoic Birds above the heads of dinosaurs Chiappe and Witmer ed 2001 University of California Press nbsp 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 Liaoxiornis amp oldid 1197217606, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
