Jinfengopteryx

Taxobox
name = "Jinfengopteryx"
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous?

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
superordo = Dinosauria
subordo = Theropoda
familia = Troodontidae
genus = "Jinfengopteryx"
genus_authority = Ji "et al.", 2005
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision ="J. elegans" Ji "et al.", 2005 (type)

"Jinfengopteryx" (from "Jinfeng", 'golden phoenix', the queen of birds in Chinese folklore, and Ancient Greek πτερυξ "pteryx", meaning 'feather') is a genus of 55 cm (2 ft) long maniraptoran dinosaur. It was found in the Qiaotou Formation of Hebei Province, China, and is therefore of uncertain age. The Qiaotou Formation underlies the more well-known Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, so the Qiaotou Formation is either Early Cretaceous or Late Jurassic. "Jinfengopteryx" was preserved with extensive impressions of pennaceous feathers, but it lacks flight feathers on its hind legs, which are present in related dinosaurs such as "Pedopenna".Ji, Q., Ji, S., Lu, J., You, H., Chen, W., Liu, Y., and Liu, Y. (2005). "First avialan bird from China ("Jinfengopteryx elegans" gen. et sp. nov.)." "Geological Bulletin of China", 24(3): 197-205.]

"Jinfengopteryx" is known from one specimen (number CAGS-IG-04-0801), a nearly complete articulated skeleton with feather impressions. It also preserves several small, oval structures that are reddish yellow in color. These may be the remains of eggs, or nuts/seeds that the dinosaur had eaten.

ystematics

The authors of the original description considered "Jinfengopteryx" to be the most basal avialan (bird), and a member of the family Archaeopterygidae. In a 2007 follow-up paper, they went on to compare "Jinfengopteryx" and "Archaeopteryx", still supporting its placement as an archaeopterygid, but providing no phylogenetic analysis.Ji S., and Ji, Q. (2007). "Jinfengopteryx" compared to "Archaeopteryx", with comments on the mosaic evolution of long-tailed avialan birds." "Acta Geologica Sinica" (English Edition), 81(3): 337-343.] However, Luis Chiappe pointed out that "Jingengopteryx" appears to have more in common with the troodontids, such as an enlarged claw on its short second toe, and that numerous scientists suspect it may belong to that group.Chiappe, L.M. "Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds." Sydney: UNSW Press.] In 2006, Xu and Norell also suggested that "Jinfengopteryx" was a troodontid, based on general body plan and features of the teeth.Xu and Norell (2006). "Non-avian dinosaur fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group of western Liaoning, China." "Geological Journal", 41(3-4): 419-437.] In a 2007 analysis of the relationships between troodontids, dromaeosaurids, and early birds, Turner and colleagues did find "Jinfengopteryx" to be a troodontid, and referred it to that group, noting that it is the first troodontid specimen to preserve evidence of feathers.cite journal |last=Turner |first=Alan H. |coauthors= Pol, Diego; Clarke, Julia A.; Erickson, Gregory M.; and Norell, Mark |year=2007 |title=A basal dromaeosaurid and size evolution preceding avian flight |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/317/5843/1378.pdf |format=pdf |journal=Science |volume=317 |pages=1378–1381 |doi=10.1126/science.1144066 ]

References

External links

* [http://dml.cmnh.org/2005Mar/msg00372.html Discussion of the affinities of "Jinfengopteryx"] , from the [http://dml.cmnh.org/ Dinosaur Mailing List] .
* [http://dino.lm.com/images/display.php?id=2718 Skeletal reconstruction of "Jinfengopteryx"] , from the [http://dino.lm.com/ Dinosauricon] .