Description of a new enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of Hebei, northern China

2004/08/18 by Fucheng Zhang, Per G. P. Ericson, Zhonghe Zhou · 7 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

paper · doi:10.1139/e04-055

openalex publication_date 2004/08/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11

Abstract

This paper describes a new enantiornithine fossil bird, Vescornis hebeiensis, nov. sp. from the Early Cretaceous of China. We refer Vescornis to the crown clade Euenantiornithes based on several characteristics observed in the thoracic girdle and wing. Vescornis also exhibits characteristics that separate it from other enantiornithine birds, such as the short alular phalanx, the vestigial manual claws, and the well-developed and long foot claws. These features suggest an adaptation towards an improved flight capability, while the ability of Vescornis to climb is reduced compared with many other enantiornithine birds.

Citations

• Anatomy of the primitive bird Sapeornis chaoyangensis from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China

Cited by

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• A reassessment of Sinornis santensis and Cathayornis yandica (Aves: Enantiornithes). In Proceedings of the VII International Meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution, ed. W.E. Boles and T.H. Worthy
• A historical specimen of enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia representing a new taxon with a specialized neck morphology
• New enantiornithine bird (Aves, Ornithothoraces) from the Late Cretaceous of NW Argentina
• Jibeinia [wikipedia]
• Vescornis [wikipedia]