Qianshanornis rapax is an extinct predatory bird from the Middle Paleocene of China. Q. rapax is very similar to the Eocene cariamiform Strigogyps, but it differs in being smaller, and in having a hypertrophied, hyperextensible second toe, forming a claw analogous to that of dromeosaurid dinosaurs. This toe is thought to allowed the bird to better pin down captured prey. Although very little wing-material is known, the condylar processes suggest it was capable of flight, and probably was a flier superior to either Strigogyps or modern seriemas.[1]
Mayr and colleagues only classified Qianshanornis within its monotypic family, Qianshanornithidae, since the type specimen showed little similarity to other cariamiform birds, though they at least considered it unlikely to be a gruiform.[1] Other researchers have questioned its relationship with cariamiform birds,[2] with some even suggesting that it may be outside the crown group Aves along with Qinornis.[3]
References
- ^ a b Mayr, G.; Yang, J.; De Bast, E.; Li, C.-S.; Smith, T. (2013-06-25). "A Strigogyps-like bird from the middle Paleocene of China with an unusual grasping foot". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (4): 895–901. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.748059. S2CID 86051919.
- ^ Stidham, T.A; Wang, Y.-Q. (2017). "An ameghinornithid-like bird (Aves: Cariamae: Ameghinornithidae?) from the Middle Eocene of Nei Mongol, China". Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 55 (3): 218–226. doi:10.19615/j.cnki.1000-3118.2017.03.004.
- ^ Ksepka, D. T.; Stidham, T. A.; Williamson, T. E. (2017). "Early Paleocene landbird supports rapid phylogenetic and morphological diversification of crown birds after the K–Pg mass extinction". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (30): 8047–8052. Bibcode:2017PNAS..114.8047K. doi:10.1073/pnas.1700188114. PMC 5544281. PMID 28696285.
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