Osteohistology of the lower cretaceous yixian formation ornithuromorph (Aves) iteravis huchzermeyeri

23Citations
Citations of this article
31Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

We describe for the first time the histology of an ornithuromorph bird from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group, revealing the bone structure of one of the oldest members of this derived clade. The newly discovered Sihedang locality of the Yixian Formation in northeastern China preserves the oldest ornithuromorph dominated avifauna, with all collected birds referable to a single taxon, Iteravis huchzermeyeri. These specimens are all preserved in a relatively greater degree of three-dimensionality compared to Jehol specimens from other localities. We sampled a specimen of Iteravis in order to test the hypothesis that this aggregation of birds may represent a breeding colony. Although medullary bone is known to facilitate three-dimensional preservation, this bone tissue was not present in the histological samples. The specimen is nearly adult with regards to skeletal fusion, and histology indicates medullary expansion had occurred and an inner circumferential layer had already formed. However, lines of arrested growth are absent. Overall the bone histology is comparable to Ichthyornis; this is consistent with the derived phylogenetic placement inferred for this new taxon relative to previously sampled basal ornithuromorphs (Patagopteryx, Hollanda), which all indicate they required more than one year to reach adulthood. This suggests that the modern avian growth strategy evolved in the Early Cretaceous in non-ornithurine birds.

References Powered by Scopus

An exceptionally preserved lower cretaceous ecosystem

574Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Sexual maturity in growing dinosaurs does not fit reptilian growth models

190Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Was dinosaurian physiology inherited by birds? Reconciling slow growth in Archaeopteryx

156Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Assessing ontogenetic maturity in extinct saurian reptiles

110Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Avian Evolution: The Fossil Record of Birds and Its Paleobiological Significance

97Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

A bizarre Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird with unique crural feathers and an ornithuromorph plough-shaped pygostyle

40Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

O’Connor, J. K., Wang, M., Zhou, S., & Zhou, Z. (2015). Osteohistology of the lower cretaceous yixian formation ornithuromorph (Aves) iteravis huchzermeyeri. Palaeontologia Electronica, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.26879/520

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 15

68%

Researcher 5

23%

Professor / Associate Prof. 2

9%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Earth and Planetary Sciences 12

48%

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 5

20%

Environmental Science 5

20%

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Bi... 3

12%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free