New enantiornithine bird (Aves, Ornithothoraces) from the Late Cretaceous of NW Argentina |
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Authors: | Fernando Emilio Novas Federico Lisandro Agnolín Carlos Agustín Scanferla |
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Institution: | a Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, Argentina;b Fundación de Historia Natural “Félix de Azara”, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropología, CEBBAD - Universidad Maimónides, Valentín Virasoro 732 (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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Abstract: | A new enantiornithine bird, Intiornis inexpectatus gen. et sp. nov, is described here. It is based on a partial hind limb found in beds of the Upper Cretaceous Las Curtiembres Formation (Campanian), North-West Argentina. The new taxon is referred to the family Avisauridae on the basis of its cranially convex third metatarsal. Several features suggest close relationships between Intiornis and the avisaurid Soroavisaurus, from the Lecho Formation (Maastrichtian; North-West Argentina). Intiornis was the size of a sparrow, thus representing the smallest Enantiornithes known from South America. The new species shows adaptations for a perching mode of life. Moreover, the hypothesis suggesting that the flying pterosaur reptiles decrease in taxonomic diversity due to competitive interaction with birds is discussed. The new species shows adaptations for a perching mode of life. Moreover, the hypothesis suggesting that the flying pterosaur reptiles decrease in taxonomic diversity due to competitive interaction with birds is discussed. |
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Keywords: | Enantiornithes Avisauridae Argentina Upper CretaceousMots clé s: Enantiornithes Avisauridae Argentine Cré tacé supé rieur |
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