Clark’s Nutcracker

by | Dec 28, 2017 | Nutcrackers

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Mengciusornis is an extinct genus of basal ornithuromorph dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of China. It contains one species, M. dentatus, remains of which have been found in the Jiufotang Formation. Together with the closely related Schizooura it makes up the family Schizoouridae.[1]

Description

Mengciusornis is known from a single specimen, IVPP V26275, a well-preserved skeleton with remains of feathers. Unlike its sister genus Schizooura, which was toothless, Mengciusornis possessed large, curved teeth on its premaxillae, similar to those of the distantly related Longipteryx.[1]

Etymology

The generic name honours the Chinese philosopher Mencius, while the specific epithet is Latin for "toothed".[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wang, M.; O’Connor, J. K.; Zhou, S.; Zhou, Z. (2019). "New toothed Early Cretaceous ornithuromorph bird reveals intraclade diversity in pattern of tooth loss". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 18 (8): 631–645. doi:10.1080/14772019.2019.1682696.


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