Jinzhouornis
Encyclopedia
Jinzhouornis is a dubious
genus
of prehistoric bird
s. Their fossils have found in rocks of the Yixian Formation
of Liaoning Province (PRC
), dating from the Early Cretaceous
(early Aptian
, about 125 million years ago).
Two species
have been named, but they are of doubtful validity. J. yixianensis is hardly distinct from the taxa the better-known genus Confuciusornis
and was at least a very close relative. J. zhangjiyingia even appears to be a junior synonym of Confuciusornis sanctus. However, settling these questions would require a thorough restudy of the Jinzhouornis specimens, comparing them with the numerous and quite variable fossils of Confuciusornis.
, where the type specimen of J. yixianensis was found) + Ancient Greek
ornis (όρνις) "bird". yixianensis (Latin
for "from Yixian") refers to the formation where it was found and which in turn was named for Yixian County
. zhangjiyingia is Latin for "from Zhangjiying", a city near the type locality Heitizigou.
Nomen dubium
In zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of prehistoric 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...
s. Their fossils have found in rocks of the Yixian Formation
Yixian Formation
The Yixian Formation is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans 11 million years during the early Cretaceous period...
of Liaoning Province (PRC
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
), dating from the Early 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...
(early Aptian
Aptian
The Aptian is an age in the geologic timescale or a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch or series and encompasses the time from 125.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 112.0 ± 1.0 Ma , approximately...
, about 125 million years ago).
Two species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
have been named, but they are of doubtful validity. J. yixianensis is hardly distinct from the taxa the better-known genus Confuciusornis
Confuciusornis
Confuciusornis is a genus of primitive crow-sized birds from the Early Cretaceous Yixian and Jiufotang Formations of China, dating from 125 to 120 million years ago...
and was at least a very close relative. J. zhangjiyingia even appears to be a junior synonym of Confuciusornis sanctus. However, settling these questions would require a thorough restudy of the Jinzhouornis specimens, comparing them with the numerous and quite variable fossils of Confuciusornis.
Etymology
They are named after their locations of discovery. Jinzhouornis means "Jinzhou bird", from Jinzhou City (Yi County, LiaoningYi County, Liaoning
Yi County is a county in west-central Liaoning Province in Northeast China, and is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Jinzhou...
, where the type specimen of J. yixianensis was found) + Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
ornis (όρνις) "bird". yixianensis (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "from Yixian") refers to the formation where it was found and which in turn was named for Yixian County
Yi County, Liaoning
Yi County is a county in west-central Liaoning Province in Northeast China, and is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Jinzhou...
. zhangjiyingia is Latin for "from Zhangjiying", a city near the type locality Heitizigou.