Taxobox
name = "Jinzhouornis"
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
familia = Confuciusornithidae
genus = "Jinzhouornis"
genus_authority =
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision ="Jinzhouornis yixianensis" (type)
"Jinzhouornis zhangjiyingia"
"Jinzhouornis" is a doubtfully valid genus of prehistoric birds. Their fossils have found in rocks of the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province (PRC), dating from the Early Cretaceous (probably early Aptian, 125-121 million years ago).
Two species have been named,[Hou, L.H., Zhou, Z.H., Zhang, F.C., "et al." (2002). "Mesozoic Birds from Western Liaoning in China." Shenyang: Liaoning Science and Technology Publishing House, 2002.] but they are of doubtful validity. "J. yixianensis" is hardly distinct from the taxa the better-known genus "Confuciusornis" and was at least a very close relative. "J. zhangjiyingia" even appears to be a junior synonym of "Confuciusornis sanctus". However, settling these questions would require a thorough restudy of the "Jinzhouornis" specimens, comparing them with the numerous and quite variable fossils of "Confuciusornis". [aut|Mortimer, Michael (2004): The Theropod Database: [http://home.comcast.net/~eoraptor/Phylogeny%20of%20Taxa.html Phylogeny of taxa] . Retrieved 2008-AUG-14.] ]Etymology
They are named after their locations of discovery. "Jinzhouornis" means "Jinzhou bird", from Jinzhou City (Yi County, Liaoning, where the type specimen of "J. yixianensis" was found) + Ancient Greek "ornis" ("όρνις") "bird". "yixianensis" (Latin for "from Yixian") refers to the formation where it was found and which in turn was named for Yixian County. "zhangjiyingia" is Latin for "from Zhangjiying", a city near the type locality Heitizigou.
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