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Dalingheornis liweii gen.et sp.nov.,a new enantiornithine bird was collected from the early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in northeastern China.It is the first record of a highly specialized heterodactyl foot in Mesozoic birds.The Y-shaped furcula with short hypocleidum is different from that of other enantiornithines.The minor metacarpal is robust and longer than the major metacarpal.A long bony tail composed of 20 caudal vertebrae with chevrons resembling those of dromaeosaurids and thus,highlighting again the evolutionary relationship between birds and non-avian theropods.Well-preserved alula feathers and a heterodactyl foot provide strong evidence for the arboreal habit of Dalingheornis.
Dalingheornis liweii gen.et sp.nov., A new enantiornithine bird was collected from the early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in northeastern China. It is the first record of a highly specialized heterodactyl foot in Mesozoic birds.The Y-shaped furcula with short hypocleidum is different from that of other enantiornithines.The minor metacarpal is robust and longer than the major metacpal. A long bony tail composed of 20 caudal vertebrae with chevrons resembling those of dromaeosaurids and thus, highlighting again the evolutionary relationship between birds and non-avian theropods. Well-preserved alula feathers and a heterodactyl foot provide strong evidence for the arboreal habit of Dalingheornis.