Enantiornithes
Enantiornithes is a group of extinct avialans ("birds" in the broad sense). They are the most abundant and diverse group known from the Mesozoic era.[2][3][4]
| Enantiornitheans | |
|---|---|
| File:Zhouornis hani.png | |
| Fossil specimen of a bohaiornithid (Zhouornis hani) | |
| Scientific classification e | |
| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Enantiornithes |
| Subgroups | |
Most had teeth and clawed fingers on each wing, but otherwise looked much like modern birds.[1] Over 80 species of enantiornitheans have been named, but some names represent only single bones, so probably not all are valid species.
Enantiornitheans became extinct at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary, as did the hesperornithids and all other non-avian dinosaurs. The Enantiornithes are thought to have left no living descendants.
The name "Enantiornithes" means "opposite birds", from Ancient Greek enantios (ἐνάντιος) "opposite" + ornithes (όρνιθες) "birds" . The name was coined by Cyril Alexander Walker in a landmark paper which established the group.[5] In his paper, Walker explained what he meant by "opposite":
Perhaps the most fundamental and characteristic difference between the Enantiornithes and all other birds is in the nature of the articulation between the scapula [...] and the coracoid [Coracoid process], where the 'normal' condition is completely reversed.[5]
This refers to an anatomical feature. The articulation of the shoulder bones has a concave-convex socket joint which is the reverse of the joint in modern birds.
Enantiornithes Media
- Iberomesornis romerali by durbed.jpg
A life restoration of Iberomesornis, a species of early Enantiornithes
- Bohaiornis skull reconstruction.png
A reconstruction of the skull of Bohaiornis, a bohaiornithid.
- Mummified precocial bird wings in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (2016) fig. 1.png
Mummified precocial bird wings in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (2016) fig. 1
- Rapaxavis.jpg
Fossil skeleton of Rapaxavis pani (a longipterygid) with a preserved pygostyle
- Life reconstruction of enantiornithine birds feeding.jpg
Life reconstruction of enantiornithine birds feeding (left Longipteryx, centre Bohaiornis and right Pengornis)
- Reconstruction of an avisaurid (e.g., A. darwini).png
Depiction of Avisaurus preying on a prehistoric mammal
- Gobipteryx sp eggs.JPG
Fossilized eggs of Gobipteryx minuta, Dinosaurium (Prague)
- Y martini.png
Artist's reconstruction of Yanornis martini
- Protopteryx Silhouette.png
Silhouette of Protopteryx fengningensis.
- Chiappeavis magnapremaxillo.png
Chiappeavis magnapremaxillo
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
- ↑ Mesozoic birds : above the heads of dinosaurs. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. 2002. ISBN 0-520-20094-2. OCLC 47805081.
- ↑ Chiappe, Luis M. 2007 (2 February 2007). Glorified dinosaurs: the origin and early evolution of birds. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-24723-4.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).