[PaleoOrnithology • 2016]
Cratoavis cearensis • A New Genus and Species of Enantiornithine Bird from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil
ABSTRACT
The fossil record of birds in Gondwana is almost restricted to the Late
Cretaceous. Herein we describe a new fossil from the Araripe Basin, Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen et sp.,
composed of an articulated skeleton with feathers attached to the wings
and surrounding the body. The present discovery Considerably extends
the record time of the enantiornithes birds at South America to the
Early Cretaceous. For the first team, an almost complete and articulated
skeleton of an Early Cretaceous bird from South America is documented.
Keywords: Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen et sp .; Araripe Basin; fossil bird
SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY
Aves Linnaeus 1758
Ornithothoraces Chiappe 1996
Enantiornithes Walker 1981
Euenantiornithes Chiappe & Walker 2001
Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen. et sp. (Figs. 3 and 4)
Etymology: Cratoavis nov. gen., the generic name derives
from the combination of the Crato Member lithostratigraphic unit, where
the specimen was found, and the zoological group Aves. The specific
epithet cearensis refers to the Ceará State, where the fossil was collected.
Locality and horizon: Pedra Branca Mine, Nova Olinda County,
Ceará State, Brazil (7° 6´51.9´´ S and 39° 41´46.9´´ W). Araripe Basin,
Santana Formation, Crato Member (Early Cretaceous, Aptian).
This formation has yielded abundant
and exceptionally preserved fossils of a large variety of plants and
animals, representing one of the best well-known terrestrial ecosystems
for the Early Cretaceous. Isolated feathers probably belonging to birds
have been described from these beds, as well as succinct reports on
avian skeletons associated with poorly preserved feathers.
CONCLUSIONS
Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen. et sp. constitutes the first
named bird from the Mesozoic of Brazil and the Early Cretaceous of
South America. It constitutes an important addition to the meager record
of South American Cretaceous birds, and constitutes one of the more
complete Mesozoic bird specimen from Gondwana. It also expands the list
in which skeletal elements have been found in association with feathers,
including long tail rectrices.
Ismar Carvalho, Fernando E. Novas, Federico L. Agnolin, Marcelo P.
Isasi, Francisco I. Freitas and Jose A. Andrade. 2015. A New Genus and
Species of Enantiornithine Bird from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Geology. 45(2): 161-171. DOI: 10.1590/23174889201500020001
RESUMO: No Gondwana, o registro
fóssil de aves está praticamente restrito ao Cretáceo Superior. Neste
estudo é descrito um novo fóssil da Bacia do Araripe, Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen. et sp.,
composto por um esqueleto articulado com penas conectadas às asas e
circundando o corpo. A presente descoberta amplia consideravelmente o
intervalo temporal de registro das aves Enantiornithes na América do Sul
ao Cretáceo Inferior. Pela primeira vez, um esqueleto articulado e
quase completo de uma ave do Cretáceo Inferior da América do Sul é
documentado.
PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Cratoavis cearensis nov. gen. et sp.; Bacia do Araripe; Ave fóssil.
Ismar de Souza Carvalho, Fernando E.
Novas, Federico L. Agnolín, Marcelo P. Isasi, Francisco I. Freitas and
José A. Andrade. 2015. A Mesozoic Bird from Gondwana preserving
Feathers. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8141
Photos: Dinosaur-Era Bird Sported Ribbonlike Feathers
http://www.livescience.com/51035-photos-bird-ribbonlike-feathers.html
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