Rapaxavis

Rapaxavis had teeth only in the front of its upper and lower jaws, unlike many other birds.2

Its feet were perfectly adapted for grasping branches, making it one of the first birds known to be strongly arboreal (tree-living).2

The fossil of Rapaxavis was so well preserved that scientists could see the keratin sheaths on its toe claws.2

Rapaxavis lived about 113 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous period.1

The holotype (main specimen) was a subadult, meaning it was not fully grown when it died.1

Its name comes from the Latin word 'rapax' meaning grasping, because of its strong feet.1