Liaoxiornis

Taxobox
name = "Liaoxiornis"
status = fossil


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Note that though feather traces are preserved, the skeleton is incomplete and badly crushed
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
subclassis = Enantiornithes
genus = "Liaoxiornis""
genus_authority = Hou & Chen, 1999
species = "'"L. delicatus"
binomial = "Liaoxiornis delicatus"
binomial_authority = Hou and Chen, 1999
synonyms =Genus-level: "Lingyuanornis" Ji & Ji, 1999----Species-level: "Lingyuanornis parvus" Ji & Ji, 1999

"Liaoxiornis"" is a putative genus of enantiornithine bird. It may be the smallest bird known from the Mesozoic. The only known species is "Liaoxiornis delicatus". It was described by Hou and Chen (1999) Hou, L., Chen, P.-J. (1999) "Liaoxiornis dlicatus gen. et sp. nov., the smallest Mesozoic bird. Chinese Science Bulletin 44(9):834-838.] , just before the publication of another specimen by Li and Li (1999). Li and Li (1999) assigned the animal the name of "Lingyuanornis parvus", which is now a junior synonym.Ji, Qiang, Ji, S.-A. (1999) "A new genus of the Mesozoic birds from Lingyuan, Liaoning, China". "Chinese Geology" 262:45-48.] Several specimens are known from the Early Cretaceous, Dawangzhangzi Yixian Formation near the city of Lingyuan in Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.Chiappe, Luis, Walker, Cyril A. (2001) "Euenantiornithes" in "Mesozoic Birds: above the heads of dinosaurs". Chiappe and Witmer, ed. 2001, University of California Press]

The type specimen is complete and articulated, it has mature flight feathers, but some skeletal features indicate that it may be a juvenile. Because it may be a juvenile it may not be possible to demonstrate that it does not belong to another genus. Several other specimens are of roughly the same size, which indicates that this may be the adult size for "Liaoxiornis", that it may be a valid genus, and that it was the smallest bird from the Mesozoic. Zhou and Hou (2001) assign it to Enantiornithes, and describe it as equally advanced to Cathayornis.Zhou, Zhonghe, Hou, Lianhai (2001) "The Discovery and Study of Mesozoic Birds in China" in "Mesozoic Birds: above the heads of dinosaurs". Chiappe and Witmer, ed. 2001, University of California Press]

References