Microenantiornis

Microenantiornis belongs to a group of ancient birds called enantiornithines, which had teeth and claws on their wings.2

Its name means 'tiny opposite bird' because it was small and had a different shoulder joint from modern birds.1

This bird lived about 121 to 113 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous period.1

The only known fossil of Microenantiornis was found in the Jiufotang Formation in Liaoning, China.1

Scientists think Microenantiornis lived in trees because its hindlimb bones show features of an arboreal (tree-dwelling) animal.2

Its breastbone (sternum) was simple and lacked a keel, which is different from modern flying birds.2