Gobipteryx
Encyclopedia
Gobipteryx is the name given to a genus of enantiornithine
bird
from the Late Cretaceous
Period. Its fossils were found in the Barun Goyot Formation
in the Gobi Desert
, Mongolia
and first described in 1976 from two fragmentary skulls (ZPAL-MgR-I/12 and ZPAL-MgR-I/32; Elżanowski, 1976). The type
and only described species is Gobipteryx minuta.
Elzanowski (1981) described seven specimens of G. minuta, found preserved still within their eggs. He documented evidence that the animals would have hatched with a superprecocial
developmental pattern.
The genus also includes the fossil formerly known as Nanantius valifanovi, described from a fragmentary skull with some postcranial bones from Khermeen Tsav (PIN-4492). The synonymy was revealed through analysis of the first good specimen (IGM-100/1011), a supremely preserved partial skull from the Djadochta Formation
at Ukhaa Tolgod.
Gobipteryx was originally considered distinct enough to be classified in a distinct order
(Gobipterygiformes) and family
(Gobipterygidae). Research indicates it is a member of the Enantiornithes
, a group of primitive birds which includes Neuquenornis
and Sinornis.
Enantiornithes
Enantiornithes is an extinct group of primitive birds. They were the most abundant and diverse avialans of the Mesozoic. Almost all retained teeth and clawed fingers on each wing, but otherwise looked much like modern birds externally. Over 50 species of Enantiornithines have been named, but some...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
from the Late Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
Period. Its fossils were found in the Barun Goyot Formation
Barun Goyot Formation
The Barun Goyot Formation , dating from the Late Cretaceous Period, is located within and is widely represented in the Gobi Desert basin, in the Ömnögovi Province of Mongolia....
in the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and first described in 1976 from two fragmentary skulls (ZPAL-MgR-I/12 and ZPAL-MgR-I/32; Elżanowski, 1976). The type
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
and only described species is Gobipteryx minuta.
Elzanowski (1981) described seven specimens of G. minuta, found preserved still within their eggs. He documented evidence that the animals would have hatched with a superprecocial
Superprecocial
The term superprecocial refers to a level of physical maturity and capability in young animals that is most extreme. Examples are the Megapode birds, which have full flight feathers and which, in some species, can fly on the same day they hatch from their eggs...
developmental pattern.
The genus also includes the fossil formerly known as Nanantius valifanovi, described from a fragmentary skull with some postcranial bones from Khermeen Tsav (PIN-4492). The synonymy was revealed through analysis of the first good specimen (IGM-100/1011), a supremely preserved partial skull from the Djadochta Formation
Djadochta Formation
The Djadochta Formation is situated in central Asia and dates from the Late Cretaceous Period. Laid down in the early Campanian, possibly starting in the latest Santonian, it is dated somewhat uncertainly at about 84-75 mya...
at Ukhaa Tolgod.
Gobipteryx was originally considered distinct enough to be classified in a distinct order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
(Gobipterygiformes) and family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Gobipterygidae). Research indicates it is a member of the Enantiornithes
Enantiornithes
Enantiornithes is an extinct group of primitive birds. They were the most abundant and diverse avialans of the Mesozoic. Almost all retained teeth and clawed fingers on each wing, but otherwise looked much like modern birds externally. Over 50 species of Enantiornithines have been named, but some...
, a group of primitive birds which includes Neuquenornis
Neuquenornis
Neuquenornis volans was an enantiornithine bird which lived during the Late Cretaceous in today's Patagonia, Argentina. It is presently the only known species of the genus Neuquenornis. Its fossils were found in the Santonian Bajo de la Carpa Formation, dating from about 85-83 million years ago....
and Sinornis.