| Changchengornis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Holotype specimen,Geological Museum of China | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Clade: | Avialae |
| Clade: | †Confuciusornithiformes |
| Family: | †Confuciusornithidae |
| Genus: | †Changchengornis Ji, Chiappe & Ji, 1999 |
| Species: | †C. hengdaoziensis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Changchengornis hengdaoziensis Ji, Chiappe & Ji, 1999 | |
Changchengornis is an extinct basalpygostyliangenus from the EarlyCretaceous. Its remains have been found in thePeople's Republic of China, inChaomidianzi Formation rocks from around theBarremian-Aptian boundary, deposited 125 million years ago.Changchengornis was a close relative of the better-knownConfuciusornis. In 1999 it was assigned to theConfuciusornithidae.
The more pointed bill ofChangchengornis might indicate a diet different from that ofConfuciusornis. However, ofConfuciusornis itself it is contested whether it were a fish eater, anomnivore, or a seed eater.
In 1998Ji Shuan andLuis Chiappe discovered among the many specimens of theNational Geological Museum of China atBeijing assigned toConfuciusornis, an exemplar that seemed somewhat different. Subsequent preparation by theAmerican Museum of Natural History showed that it indeed was a separate species, new to science.
In 1999 Ji, Chiappe andJi Qiang named thetype species and only species ofChangchengornis:Changchengornis hengdaoziensis. The generic name refers to theGreat Wall of China,changcheng, and combines this with a Greek ὄρνις,ornis, "bird". Thespecific name refers to the geologicalHengdaozi Member.[1]
Theholotype specimen,GMV-2129, was found near the village ofJianshangou inLiaoning province, in theJianshangou Beds of the Hengdaozi Member of theYixian Formation, at the time seen as a separate Chaomidianzi Formation. It consists of a plate and counterplate, GMV-2129a/b, showing a largely complete and articulated but compressed and somewhat damaged skeleton. Much of the feathering has been preserved in an excellent state of preservation.
Changchengornis resembles its relativeConfuciusornis.[2] The type specimen is rather small, smaller than the smallest known specimens ofConfuciusornis. Compared to the latter,Changchengornis had a beak that was more pointed, slightly hooked at the tip, proportionally shorter, and higher at the back.[3] The deltopectoral crest of thehumerus is not pierced. GMV-2129 also shows two elongated, ribbon-like tail feathers as found in some specimens ofConfuciusornis, that are often considered to be the males. Also, the fossil gives the impression of a head tuft or crest being present; if so, the outline of its head must have borne an uncanny resemblance to today'sTauraco orturacos in general but it could also be an artefact of conservation.
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