Eocathayornis is a genus of enantiornithean birds that was probably more basal or "primitive" than related genera Sinornis and Cathayornis. These birds lived during the Early Cretaceous in today's People's Republic of China.[1]

Eocathayornis
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous, 120 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Clade: Avialae
Clade: Enantiornithes
Genus: Eocathayornis
Zhou, 2002
Species:
E. walkeri
Binomial name
Eocathayornis walkeri
Zhou, 2002

The holotype IVPP 10916 was in 1994 found in the Boluochi quarry by Zhou Zhonghe in a layer of the Jiufotang Formation dating from the late Aptian. It consists of the skull and the top half of the postcranial skeleton on a plate and counterplate. The bones have only been preserved as impressions. In 2002, Zhou named and described the type species Eocathayornis walkeri. The generic name combines a Greek ἠώς, eos, "dawn", with Cathayornis, referring to the more basal build compared to the latter genus. The specific name honours Cyril Alexander Walker for his contributions to the study of the Enantiornithes.[1]

Zhou in 2002 placed Eocathayornis in the Cathayornithidae.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Zhou, Z. (2002) A new and primitive enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(1):49-57.