Some information on the "new" chinese bird species

["Fred Ruhe" <fredruhe@xs4all.nl>]

Some information on the "new" chinese bird species from Wu Qicheng, 2002:



Jinzhouornis yixianensis Hou et al., 2001

Locality: Wutun Yi County, Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, China.

Age and Horizon: Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Yixian Formation

Etymologie: The generic name is derived from the city Jinzhou; the species
name is derived from the county Yixian

Diagnosis: A medium sized Confuciusornithid. Skull is long and low, rostrum
is robust and long. Braincase is small. Orbit is moderate in size, length of
the rostrum before the orbit exceeds half of the total length of the skull.
Cervical vertebra is shorter than that in _Confuciusornis_. There are over
12 thoracic vertebrae. Manual claws are extremely curved. Metacarpal II and
digits are not particularly expanded. Scapula is about as long as the
humerus. Humerus is slender. A triangular process is present on the middle
of metatarsal II; the process om metatarsal III is small.



Jinzhouornis zhangjiyingia Hou et al., 2001

Locatlity: Heitizigou, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, China

Age and Horizon: Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, lower part of Yixian
Formation..

Etymologie: The generic name is derived from the city Jinzhou; the species
name is derived from the locality Zhangjiying.

Diagnosis: Skull is long and large; premaxilla protruding posteriorly, and
extends to the posterior margin of the orbit, lying ventral to the frontal.
Lower temporal fenestra is especially well developed, quadratojugal forms
part of the posterior margin of the orbit. Orbit is moderate in size.
Furcula is more slender than in _Confuciusornis_. Two clavicles are widely
separately distally. Shaft of humerus is more robust than that in
_Yixianornis_.



Cathayornis aberransis Hou et al., 2001

Locality: Xidagou, Boluochi, Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, China

Age and Horizon: Early Cretaceous, Jiufotang Formation.

Etymology: Generic name is derived from ancient name of China; species name
indicates abnormal features of this bird.

Diagnosis: A longitudinal ridge excists between two frontals; tubercles are
present on both sides of the frontal. Numerous teeth are present on the jaw.
Keel of sternum is well developed and posteriorly distributed. Lateral
process of sternum is not longer than posterior process. Humerus is slightly
shorter than ulna. Pubes are distally symphysised.



This is all the information I have on these new birds. Unfortunately the
references are in chinees, so I can't tell who the other authors beside Hou
are, nor the magazine in which the paper was published. Fortunately I do
have some nice scans of these birdies! Ask me off line for them.

Wu Qicheng, 2002: Fossil Treasures from Liaoning. Geological Publishing
House, Beijing.

Fred Ruhe.