Piksi is a potential pterosaur[1]genus containing the single species Piksi barbarulna (meaning "strange elbowed big bird", from Blackfootpiksi, "big bird" or, specifically, "chicken" and Latinbarbarus "strange, outlandish" + ulna, elbow[2]). It lived roughly 75 million years ago in what is now Montana, United States. Known from parts of a right wing – the humerus, ulna and radius bones – the only specimens found so far are housed in the Museum of the Rockies (collection number MOR 1113). The genusPiksi is monotypic at present.
The bones are fragmentary and represent roughly the elbow area. Comparing the fossils' size to the wing bones of other ground birds, P. barbarulna would have been relatively small, with a wingspan reaching 1 m (3.3 ft).[1]
The original description of the fossils found its affinities unresolvable except that it was probably an ornithothoracinebird. Agnolin and Varricchio (2012) reinterpreted Piksi barbarulna as a pterosaur rather than a bird, most likely a member of Ornithocheiroidea.[3] However, it has since been noted that the humerus of Piksi possesses features which found in some theropods but not in any pterodactyloid pterosaurs.[4]
However, more recent studies have recovered it as a pterosaur again.[1]
Ecology
The deposit in which the bones were found was a siltyclaystone. This was formed from sediments deposited during what seems to have been a rather cool phase of the Late Cretaceous:[5]sea levels of the Western Interior Seaway at least were apparently very low for Mesozoic standards, though this may also have been due to strong tectonic uplift in the Cordilleran Overthrust Belt. The location was inland, with the Western Interior Seaway's coast at least 350 km (220 miles) away.
A diverse fauna utilized the location as a habitat. Other theropods were plentiful, including Troodon (the nest of which was recovered), tyrannosaurids, and dromaeosaurids. Orodromeus was also abundant; herds might have come to the pool to drink or breed, as adults, juveniles and hatchlings were found together. Early mammals – metatherians and multituberculates – occurred in the area, as well as lizards. That there was a temporary though not permanent body of water is indicated by the presence of articulated frog skeletons and the absence of fish and other aquatic animals.[citation needed]
^ abcLongrich, N.R., Martill, D.M., and Andres, B. (2018). Late Maastrichtian pterosaurs from North Africa and mass extinction of Pterosauria at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. PLoS Biology, 16(3): e2001663. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.2001663
^Federico L. Agnolin and David Varricchio (2012). "Systematic reinterpretation of Piksi barbarulna Varricchio, 2002 from the Two Medicine Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Western USA (Montana) as a pterosaur rather than a bird" (PDF). Geodiversitas. 34 (4): 883–894. doi:10.5252/g2012n4a10. S2CID 56002643.
^Martin-Silverstone, E.; Witton, M.P.; Arbour, V.M.; Currie, P.J. (2016). "A small azhdarchoid pterosaur from the latest Cretaceous, the age of flying giants". Royal Society Open Science. 3 (8): 160333. Bibcode:2016RSOS....360333M. doi:10.1098/rsos.160333. PMC5108964. PMID 27853614.
^Though still much warmer than today: see Cretaceous for contemporary climate.
Sources
Senter, Phil (2006): Scapular orientation in theropods and basal birds, and the origin of flapping flight. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica51(2): 305–313. PDF fulltext
Snow, David W.; Perrins, Christopher M.; Doherty, Paul & Cramp, Stanley (1998): The complete birds of the western Palaearctic on CD-ROM. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-268579-1
Varricchio, David J. (2002): A new bird from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences39(1): 19–26. HTML abstract[permanent dead link]
piksi, confused, with, dragan, stojković, potential, pterosaur, genus, containing, single, species, barbarulna, meaning, strange, elbowed, bird, from, blackfoot, piksi, bird, specifically, chicken, latin, barbarus, strange, outlandish, ulna, elbow, lived, roug. Not to be confused with Dragan Stojkovic Piksi is a potential pterosaur 1 genus containing the single species Piksi barbarulna meaning strange elbowed big bird from Blackfoot piksi big bird or specifically chicken and Latin barbarus strange outlandish ulna elbow 2 It lived roughly 75 million years ago in what is now Montana United States Known from parts of a right wing the humerus ulna and radius bones the only specimens found so far are housed in the Museum of the Rockies collection number MOR 1113 The genus Piksi is monotypic at present PiksiTemporal range Late Cretaceous 75 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataOrder PterosauriaSuborder PterodactyloideaGenus PiksiVarricchio 2002Species P barbarulnaBinomial name Piksi barbarulnaVarricchio 2002The fossils were found in 1991 by Gloria Jean Siebrecht in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation namely at Bob s Vacation Site locality TM 088 Glacier County Recovered from an old stratum of the upper Two Medicine Formation they are probably from an individual that died in or near a small pool It was described in 2002 by David J Varricchio Contents 1 Description and classification 2 Ecology 3 See also 4 References 5 SourcesDescription and classification EditThe bones are fragmentary and represent roughly the elbow area Comparing the fossils size to the wing bones of other ground birds P barbarulna would have been relatively small with a wingspan reaching 1 m 3 3 ft 1 The original description of the fossils found its affinities unresolvable except that it was probably an ornithothoracine bird Agnolin and Varricchio 2012 reinterpreted Piksi barbarulna as a pterosaur rather than a bird most likely a member of Ornithocheiroidea 3 However it has since been noted that the humerus of Piksi possesses features which found in some theropods but not in any pterodactyloid pterosaurs 4 However more recent studies have recovered it as a pterosaur again 1 Ecology EditThe deposit in which the bones were found was a silty claystone This was formed from sediments deposited during what seems to have been a rather cool phase of the Late Cretaceous 5 sea levels of the Western Interior Seaway at least were apparently very low for Mesozoic standards though this may also have been due to strong tectonic uplift in the Cordilleran Overthrust Belt The location was inland with the Western Interior Seaway s coast at least 350 km 220 miles away Judging from the stratigraphical sedimentological and faunal data the environment was thus probably semi humid possibly seasonally semi arid grassland or shrubland in a tropical or subtropical climate The claystone apparently formed from sediment of a small floodplain such as an ephemeral pool citation needed A diverse fauna utilized the location as a habitat Other theropods were plentiful including Troodon the nest of which was recovered tyrannosaurids and dromaeosaurids Orodromeus was also abundant herds might have come to the pool to drink or breed as adults juveniles and hatchlings were found together Early mammals metatherians and multituberculates occurred in the area as well as lizards That there was a temporary though not permanent body of water is indicated by the presence of articulated frog skeletons and the absence of fish and other aquatic animals citation needed See also EditList of pterosaur genera Timeline of pterosaur researchReferences Edit a b c Longrich N R Martill D M and Andres B 2018 Late Maastrichtian pterosaurs from North Africa and mass extinction of Pterosauria at the Cretaceous Paleogene boundary PLoS Biology 16 3 e2001663 doi 10 1371 journal pbio 2001663 Varricchio 2002 Federico L Agnolin and David Varricchio 2012 Systematic reinterpretation of Piksi barbarulna Varricchio 2002 from the Two Medicine Formation Upper Cretaceous of Western USA Montana as a pterosaur rather than a bird PDF Geodiversitas 34 4 883 894 doi 10 5252 g2012n4a10 S2CID 56002643 Martin Silverstone E Witton M P Arbour V M Currie P J 2016 A small azhdarchoid pterosaur from the latest Cretaceous the age of flying giants Royal Society Open Science 3 8 160333 Bibcode 2016RSOS 360333M doi 10 1098 rsos 160333 PMC 5108964 PMID 27853614 Though still much warmer than today see Cretaceous for contemporary climate Sources EditSenter Phil 2006 Scapular orientation in theropods and basal birds and the origin of flapping flight Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51 2 305 313 PDF fulltext Snow David W Perrins Christopher M Doherty Paul amp Cramp Stanley 1998 The complete birds of the western Palaearctic on CD ROM Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 268579 1 Varricchio David J 2002 A new bird from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 39 1 19 26 HTML abstract permanent dead link Portals Paleontology Cretaceous United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piksi amp oldid 1102896254, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
