Brevidentavis
![]() | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
Brevidentavis Temporal range: Early Cretaceous,
Aptian (~125–113 Ma) | |
---|---|
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | Theropoda |
Clade: | Avialae |
Clade: | Euornithes |
Clade: | Ornithuromorpha |
Genus: | †Brevidentavis O' Connor et al., 2021 |
Species: | †B. zhangi
|
Binomial name | |
†Brevidentavis zhangi O'Connor et al., 2021
|
Brevidentavis (meaning "short-toothed bird") is a genus of ornithuromorph bird from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation of Gansu Province, China. The genus contains a single species, Brevidentavis zhangi, known from a specimen including a partial skull and cervical vertebrae. The Brevidentavis holotype shows unusually blunt teeth in its lower jaw, which the describing authors suggest may indicate a specialized diet. Its dentition shows similarities with those of hesperornitheans, and indeed it may be an early member of that group.[1]
Naming[]
The generic name, "Brevidentavis," combines the Latin “brevis,” meaning “short,” “dent,” meaning “tooth,” and “avis,” meaning “bird.” The specific name, "zhangi," honors , who was involved in the expedition where the holotype fossil was discovered. Its description also uses the name Brachydontornis, which means the same except the roots are in Greek.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b O' Connor JK, Stidham TA, Harris JD, Lamanna MC, Bailleul AM, Hu H, Wang M, You H (2021). "Avian skulls represent a diverse ornithuromorph fauna from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation, Gansu Province, China". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. doi:10.1111/jse.12823. S2CID 245586113.
- Prehistoric bird stubs
- Birds described in 2021
- Fossil taxa described in 2021
- Extinct birds of Asia
- Early Cretaceous dinosaurs of Asia
- Prehistoric bird genera
- Prehistoric euornitheans