A morphological study of the first known piscivorous enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China

LITERATURE CITED

• Barsbold, R. 1974. Saurornithoididae, a new family of small theropod dinosaurs from central Asia and North America. Palaeontologia Polonica 30:5–22.
   Google Scholar
• Baumel, J. J. , and L. M. Witmer . 1993. Osteologia; pp. 45–132 in J. J. Baumel , A. S. King , J. E. Breazile , H. E. Evans , and J. C. Vanden Berge (eds.), Handbook of Avian anatomy: Nomina Anatomica Avium, second edition. Nuttall Ornithological Club, Cambridge, U.K.
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. 1993. Enantiornithine (Aves) tasometatarsi from the Cretaceous Lecho formation of northwest Argentina. American Museum Novitates 3083:1–28.
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. 1995. The phylogenetic position of the Cretaceous birds of Argentina: Enantiornithes and Patagopteryx deferrariisi . Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg 181:55–63.
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. 1996. Late Cretaceous birds of southern South America: anatomy and systematics of Patagopteryx and Enantiornithes; pp. 203–244 in G. Arratia (ed.), Contributions of Southern South America to Vertebrate Paleontology. Münchner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, Munich, Germany .
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , and J. O. Calvo . 1994. Neuquenornis volans, a new Late Cretaceous bird (Enantiornithes: Avisauridae) from Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 14:230–246.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , and C. A. Walker . 2002. Skeletal morphology and systematics of the Cretaceous Euenantiornithes (Ornithothoraces: Enantiornithes); pp. 240–267 in L. M. Chiappe and L. M. Witmer (eds.), Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs. University of California Press, Berkeley, California .
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , S. Ji , and Q. Ji . 2007a. Juvenile birds from the Early Cretaceous of China: implications for enantiornithine ontogeny. American Museum Novitates 3594:1–46.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , J. P. Lamb , and P. G. P. Ericson . 2002. New enantiornithine bird from the marine Upper Cretaceous of Alabama. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22:170–174.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , M. A. Norell , and J. M. Clark . 1998. The skull of a relative of the stem-group bird Mononykus . Nature 392:275–278.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , M. A. Norell , and J. M. Clark . 2001. A new skull of Gobipteryx minuta (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Cretaceous of the Gobi desert. American Museum Novitates 3346:1–15.
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , S. Ji , Q. Ji , and M. A. Norell . 1999. Anatomy and systematics of the Confuciusornithidae (Theropoda: Aves) from the Late Mesozoic of northeastern China. Bulletin of American Museum of Natural History 242:1–89.
   Google Scholar
• Chiappe, L. M. , S. Suzuki , G. J. Dyke , M. Watabe , K. Tsogtbaatar , and R. Barsbold . 2007b. A new enantiornithine bird from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi desert. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5:193–208.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Currie, P. J. , and X. Zhao . 1993. A new carnosaur (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Jurassic of Xinjiang, People's Republic of China. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 30:2037–2081.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Elzanowski, A. , and P. Wellnhofer . 1996. Cranial morphology of Archaeopteryx: evidence from the seventh skeleton. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 16:81–94.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Goloboff, P. A. , J. S. Farris , and K. C. Nixon . 2008. TNT, a free program for phylogenetic analysis. Cladistics 24:774–786.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gregory, J. T. 1952. The jaws of the Cretaceous toothed birds, Ichthyornis and Hesperornis . Condor 54:73–88.
   Google Scholar
• He, H. , X. Wang , Z. Zhou , F. Wang , A. Boven , G. Shi , and R. Zhu . 2004. Timing of the Jiufotang Formation (Jehol Group) in Liaoning, northeastern China, and its implications. Geophysical Research Letters 31:L12605.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hou, L. , L. M. Chiappe , F. Zhang , and C. M. Chuong . 2004. New Early Cretaceous fossil from China documents a novel trophic specialization for Mesozoic birds. Naturwissenschaften 91:22–25.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Howard, H. 1929. The avifauna of Emeryville shell mound. University of California Publications in Zoology 32:301–394.
   Google Scholar
• Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Volume 1: Regnum Animale. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm , 824 pp.
   Google Scholar
• Ji, S. , J. Atterholt , J. K. O'Connor , M. C. Lamanna , J. D. Harris , D. Li , H. You , and P. Dodson . 2011. A new, three-dimensionally preserved enantiornithine bird (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from Gansu Province, northwestern China. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162:201–219.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Li, Y. , Y. Zhang , Z. Zhou , Z. Li , D. Liu , and X. Wang . 2011. New material of Gansus and a discussion on its habit. Vertebrata Palasiatica 49:435–445.
   Google Scholar
• Livezey, B. C. , and R. L. Zusi . 2006. Higher-order phylogeny of modern birds (Theropoda, Aves: Neornithes) based on comparative anatomy: I. Methods and characters. Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History 37:1–544.
   Google Scholar
• O'Connor, J. K. 2009. A systematic review of Enantiornithes (Aves: Ornithothoraces). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California , 600 pp.
   Google Scholar
• O'Connor, J. , and L. M. Chiappe . 2011. A revision of enantiornithine (Aves: Ornithothoraces) skull morphology. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 9:135–157.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• O'Connor, J. K. , and Z. Zhou . 2013. A redescription of Chaoyangia beishanensis (Aves) and a comprehensive phylogeny of Mesozoic birds. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 11:889–906.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• O'Connor, J. K. , L. M. Chiappe , C. Gao , and B. Zhao . 2011. Anatomy of the Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird Rapaxavis pani . Acta Palaentologica Polonica 56:463–475.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• O'Connor, J. K. , Y. Zhang , L. M. Chiappe , Q. Meng , Q. Li , and D. Liu . 2013. A new enantiornithine from the Yixian Formation with the first recognized avian enamel specialization. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33:1–12.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Pol, D. , and I. H. Escapa . 2009. Unstable taxa in cladistic analysis: identification and the assessment of relevant characters. Cladistics 25:515–527.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sanz, J. L. , B. P. Perez-Moreno , L. M. Chiappe , and A. D. Buscalioni . 2002. The birds from the Lower Cretaceous of Las Hoyas (Province of Cuenca, Spain); pp. 209–229 in L. M. Chiappe , and L. M. Witmer (eds.), Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs. University of California Press, Berkeley, California .
   Google Scholar
• Walker, C. A. 1981. New subclass of birds from the Cretaceous of South America. Nature 292:51–53.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Walker, A. , and G. Dyke . 2009. Euenantiornithine birds from the Late Cretaceous of El Brete (Argentina). Irish Journal of Earth Sciences 27:15–62.
   Google Scholar
• Walker, C. A. , E. Buffetaut , and G. J. Dyke . 2007. Large euenantiornithine birds from the Cretaceous of southern France, North America and Argentina. Geological Magazine 144:977–986.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. 2014. Taxonomical revision, ontogenetic, ecological and phylogenetic analyses of Enantiornithes (Aves: Ornithothoraces) of China. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China , 464 pp.
   Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , and D. Liu . 2016. Taxonomical reappraisal of Cathayornithidae (Aves: Enantiornithes). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 14:29–47.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , and G. T. Lloyd . 2016. Rates of morphological evolution are heterogeneous in Early Cretaceous birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences 283:20160214.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , H. Hu , and Z. Li . 2015a. A new small enantiornithine bird from the Jehol Biota, with implications for early evolution of avian skull morphology. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 14:481–497.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , J. K. O'Connor , and Z. Zhou . 2014a. A new robust enantiornithine bird from the Lower Cretaceous of China with scansorial adaptations. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34:657–671.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , Z. Zhou , and C. Sullivan . 2016a. A fish-eating enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China provides evidence of modern avian digestive features. Current Biology 26:1170–1176.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , Z. Zhou , and G. Xu . 2014. The first enantiornithine bird from the Upper Cretaceous of China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34:135–145.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , Z. Zhou , J. K. O'Connor , and N. V. Zelenkov . 2014c. A new diverse enantiornithine family (Bohaiornithidae fam. nov.) from the Lower Cretaceous of China with information from two new species. Vertebrata Palasiatica 52:31–76.
   Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , D. Li , J. K. O'Connor , Z. Zhou , and H. You . 2015. Second species of enantiornithine bird from the Lower Cretaceous Changma Basin, northwestern China with implications for the taxonomic diversity of the Changma avifauna. Cretaceous Research 55:56–65.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, M. , X. Zheng , J. K. O'Connor , G. T. Lloyd , X. Wang , Y. Wang , X. Zhang , and Z. Zhou . 2015c. The oldest record of Ornithuromorpha from the Early Cretaceous of China. Nature Communications 6:6987.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wang, Y. , M. Wang , J. K. O'Connor , X, Wang , X. Zheng , and X. Zhang . 2016b. A new Jehol enantiornithine bird with three dimensional preservation and ovarian follicles. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2015.1054496.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• You, H. , M. C. Lamanna , J. D. Harris , L. M. Chiappe , J. K. O'Connor , S. Ji , J. Lü , C. Yuan , D. Li , X. Zhang , K. J. Lacovara , P. Dodson , and Q. Ji . 2006. A nearly modern amphibious bird from the Early Cretaceous of northwestern China. Science 312:1640–1643.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhang, F. , and Z. Zhou . 2000. A primitive enantiornithine bird and the origin of feathers. Science 290:1955–1959.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhang, F. , P. G. P. Ericson , and Z. Zhou . 2004. Description of a new enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of Hebei, northern China. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 41:1097–1107.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhang, Z. , L. M. Chiappe , G. Han , and A. Chinsamy . 2013. A large bird from the Early Cretaceous of China: new information on the skull of enantiornithines. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33:1176–1189.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zheng, X. , X. Wang , J. K. O'Connor , and Z. Zhou . 2012. Insight into the early evolution of the avian sternum from juvenile enantiornithines. Nature Communications 3:1116.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhou, S. , J. K. O'Connor , and M. Wang . 2014. A new species from an ornithuromorph (Aves: Ornithothoraces) dominated locality of the Jehol Biota. Chinese Science Bulletin 59:5366–5378.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhou, S. , Z. Zhou , and J. K. O'Connor . 2013. Anatomy of the basal ornithuromorph bird Archaeorhynchus spathula from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33:141–152.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhou, Z. , and L. Hou . 2002. The discovery and study of Mesozoic birds in China; pp. 160–183 in L. M. Chiappe and L. M. Witmer (eds.), Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs. University of California Press, Berkeley, California .
   Google Scholar
• Zhou, Z. , and F. Zhang . 2003. Anatomy of the primitive bird Sapeornis chaoyangensis from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 40:731–747.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Zhou, Z. , J. Clarke , and F. Zhang . 2008. Insight into diversity, body size and morphological evolution from the largest Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird. Journal of Anatomy 212:565–577.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar