Liaoningornis
Name:
Liaoningornis
(.Liaoning bird).
Phonetic: Le-ow-ning-or-niss.
Named By: Hou - 1996.
Classification: Chordata, Aves, Enantiornithes,
Liaoningornithiformes, Liaoningornithidae.
Species: L. longidigitris
(type).
Diet: Uncertain.
Size: About 10 centimetres long.
Known locations: China, Liaoning Province -
Yixian Formation.
Time period: Barremian/Aptian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Partial post cranial remains
found partially articulated. Remains include the sternum, right
leg, both feet, partial right arm, and the fragmentary remains of
coracoids and pubis.
Liaoningornis
was one of the first of the constantly expanded number of Mesozoic bird
genera discovered in China’s Liaoning province, and although the
remains are very incomplete, they indicate a fairly more advanced
form than other early Cretaceous bird genera. The sternum (breast
bone) of Liaoningornis is deeply keeled to allow
for the attachment
of strong and well-developed pectoral muscles that would have made
flapping easy to maintain over extended periods of time. The
shoulders were also better arranged for a wide degree of motion than
other earlier forms, and the claws on the toes were strongly curved,
which meant that they could wrap around and grip onto a branch,
granting Liaoningornis the ability to perch.
Together these features
combine to portray a bird that was capable of strong flapping flight,
probably between trees and bushes.
Unfortunately
the skull of Liaoningornis is still unknown, so
it is impossible to
know if this genus still retained teeth. In terms of odds there is a
fifty/fifty chance that Liaoningornis had toothed
beaks, since some
genera that lived at the same time as Liaoningornis
such as
Jeholornis
are known to have had reduced teeth, with some specimens
seemingly having no teeth at all. But when coupled with the presence
of some later genera still having teeth, we just cannot say for
certain what Liaoningornis had.
Our
understanding of Liaoningornis continues to develop
with a 2012
study by O’Conner revealing the genus to actually be a enantiornithine
bird, and similar to Eoalulavis.
Further reading
- The discovery of a Jurassic carinate bird in China - Lianhai
Hou - 1996.
- Early adaptive radiation of birds: evidence from fossils from
northeastern China - Lianhai Hou, Zhonghe Shou, Larry D.
Martin, Alan Feduccia - 1996.
- A revised look at Liaoningornis longidigitris
(Aves) -
Jingmai K. O'Connor - 2012.
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