Zhouornis

Zhouornis lived about 121 to 113 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous.2

Its skull had a large basipterygoid process and a well-developed basisphenoid recess, features also found in non-avian dinosaurs.1

The only known fossil is a nearly complete skeleton with some feathers preserved.2

Zhouornis was not fully grown when it died, but it was already one of the largest enantiornithine birds known.1

It belongs to a group called Enantiornithes, which were the most common birds during the Cretaceous.2

The fossil was found in the Jiufotang Formation, a famous rock layer that has produced many other early birds.2