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RE: Sapeornis and other Mesozoic Birds



Ralph Miller wrote-

A label in the exhibit, "Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries" (see
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs/diorama/specieslist.php), reads:

"Sapeornis chaoyangensis
largest-known Mesozoic bird"

I know that this is incorrect, as the flightless _Gargantuavis_ was about
the size of an ostrich.

So is _Sapeornis_ the largest known FLYING Mesozoic bird?
The largest known EARLY Mesozoic bird?
The Mesozoic bird with the best press agent?  Or what?

It's the largest bird from the Yixian Formation (as of a year ago), and the largest Early Cretaceous bird. Larger (possibly) flying Mesozoic birds include Gurilynia, Kuszholia, Vorona, Avisaurus, Lectavis and Enantiornis.


Mickey Mortimer