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Cited by 274Paleontology and Evolutionary BiologyFossil Insects in AmberEvolution and Paleontology Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 3 of the 3 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A long-tailed, seed-eating bird from the Early Cretaceous of China

Zhou, Zhonghe, Zhang, Fucheng·2002·Nature
DOI 10.1038/nature00930
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Abstract

The lacustrine deposits of the Yixian and Jiufotang Formations in the Early Cretaceous Jehol Group in the western Liaoning area of northeast China are well known for preserving feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds and mammals. Here we report a large basal bird, Jeholornis prima gen. et sp. nov., from the Jiufotang Formation. This bird is distinctively different from other known birds of the Early Cretaceous period in retaining a long skeletal tail with unexpected elongated prezygopophyses and chevrons, resembling that of dromaeosaurids, providing a further link between birds and non-avian theropods. Despite its basal position in early avian evolution, the advanced features of the pectoral girdle and the carpal trochlea of the carpometacarpus of Jeholornis indicate the capability of powerful flight. The dozens of beautifully preserved ovules of unknown plant taxa in the stomach represents direct evidence for seed-eating adaptation in birds of the Mesozoic era.

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Research works printed but not linked: 25

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Metadata

Authors
Zhou, Z., & Zhang, F.
Affiliations
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Corresponding author
Zhou, Zhonghe
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2002-07
Volume
418
Issue
6896
Pages
405-409
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature00930
OpenAlex
W1983590251
Cited by
274
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 9
FWCI
10.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Fossil Insects in Amber
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
Jehol Group, Lower Cretaceous, basal birds, Jiufotang Formation, Yixian Formation, avian evolution, shoulder girdle, flight ability, fossil birds
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Birds, China, Diet, Biological Evolution, Fossils, Phylogeny, Seeds, Skeleton

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