Tianyuornis

Tianyuornis is a genus of ornithuromorph birds from the Early Cretaceous period (Barremian to Aptian stages). Tianyuornis was unearthed from lake deposits in the Yixian Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. Tianyuornis, like its other relatives, were similar in size to modern phoebes.

Tianyuornis
Temporal range: Barremian-Aptian,
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Clade: Avialae
Family: †Hongshanornithidae
Genus: †Tianyuornis
Species:
†T. cheni
Binomial name
†Tianyuornis cheni
Zheng et al., 2014

A nearly complete and articulated subadult individual has been recovered from the Yixian Formation, this individual had a small body and elongate hindlimbs, features that are similar to other members of the family Hongshanornithidae.[1] Tianyuornis however, also possesses several autapomorphies such as a straight dentary, and teeth that were preserved in the maxilla and mandible. The possession of teeth reveals new and important morphological information of hongshanornithids, as well as confirms the controversial presence of teeth of the members of Hongshanornithidae.[1]

References
  1. Xiao-ting, Zhang; O'Connor, Jingmai; Wang, Xiaoli; Xiao-mei, Zhang; Palasiatica, Vertebrata (2014). "New Information on Hongshanornithidae (Aves: Ornithuromorpha) from a new subadult specimen". Vertebrata PalAsiatica: 52.
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