Jiuquanornis

Jiuquanornis is known from a single fossil that was first described in 2013. The fossil includes parts of the sternum, furcula, and forelimb.1

Its sternum had long, thin projections called trabeculae, which are also seen in modern ground-dwelling birds like chickens and tinamous.1

Jiuquanornis had a U-shaped furcula (wishbone) with a low angle of about 36 degrees, and it lacked a hypocleidium, a small projection found in some birds.1

Scientists think Jiuquanornis was a basal ornithuromorph, meaning it was an early relative of modern birds but not a direct ancestor.1

The fossil of Jiuquanornis was found in the Xiagou Formation, which is about 121 to 113 million years old, from the Early Cretaceous period.21

Jiuquanornis was named after the city of Jiuquan, which is near the fossil site. The species name niui honors Professor Shao-Wu Niu for his geological work.1

The fossil of Jiuquanornis was originally thought to be too incomplete to name, but scientists later decided it was different enough from other birds to be a new species.1