Migmanychion Temporal range: Early Cretaceous | |
---|---|
Skeletal reconstruction | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Dinosauria |
Clade: | Saurischia |
Clade: | Theropoda |
Clade: | Maniraptora |
Genus: | † Migmanychion Wang et al., 2023 |
Species: | †M. laiyang |
Binomial name | |
†Migmanychion laiyang Wang et al., 2023 | |
Migmanychion (meaning "claw mixture") is an extinct genus of maniraptoran theropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Longjiang Formation of China. The genus contains a single species, M. laiyang, known from an incomplete left forelimb. [1]
The Migmanychion holotype specimen, LY 2022JZ3001, was discovered in sediments of the Longjiang Formation (Pigeon Hill locality), near Baoshan in Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Inner Mongolia, China. The specimen consists of rib fragments and a partial left arm with a complete hand, preserved on a slab and counterslab. [1]
In 2023, Wang et al. described Migmanychion laiyang as a new genus and species of maniraptoran theropod based on these fossil remains. The generic name, "Migmanychion", combines the Greek words "μείγμα νυχιών", meaning "claw mixture", referencing the difference in the morphology of the manual unguals. The specific name, "laiyang", references the holotype's home at the Shandong Laiyang Cretaceous National Geological Park. [1]
Additional fossil material found at the type locality, including an articulated pelvis and partial hindlimb, represents an individual similar in size to Migmanychion, but was not referred as it could not be proven to represent the same animal. [1]
Migmanychion is a maniraptoran theropod, but its precise placement within the clade is unclear. Wang et al. (2023) noted several similarities between Migmanychion and Fukuivenator , a premise supported by their phylogenetic analyses. However, other positions within the Oviraptorosauria and Paraves were recovered. They note that the description of additional fossil material would allow for a more confident placement. A cladogram adapted from the analysis is shown below: [1]
Migmanychion was a member of the "Moqi Fauna" in the Longjiang Formation. It coexisted with other dinosaurs including the dromaeosaurid Daurlong , [2] indeterminate paravians, [1] and the avialans Beiguornis (an enantiornithean) [3] and Khinganornis (an ornithuromorph), [4] as well as fish and amphibians. [5]
Caudipteryx is a genus of small oviraptorosaur dinosaurs that lived in Asia during the Early Cretaceous, around 124.6 million years ago. They were feathered and extremely birdlike in their overall appearance, to the point that some paleontologists suggested it was a bird. Two species have been described: C. zoui, in 1998, and C. dongi, in 2000.
Beipiaosaurus is a genus of therizinosauroid theropod dinosaurs that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous in the Yixian Formation. The first remains were found in 1996 and formally described in 1999. Before the discovery of Yutyrannus, Beipiaosaurus were among the heaviest dinosaurs known from direct evidence to be feathered. Beipiaosaurus is known from three reported specimens. Numerous impressions of feather structures were preserved that allowed researchers to determine the feathering color which turned out to be brownish.
Yixianosaurus is a maniraptoran theropod dinosaur genus from the Early Cretaceous of China.
Sinornithoides is a genus of troodontid theropod dinosaurs containing the single species Sinornithoides youngi. S. youngi lived during the Early Cretaceous. It measured approximately one meter long (3.3 ft). It lived in Inner Mongolia, China, and probably ate invertebrates and other small prey. They lived in what is now Mongolia, which was part of Laurasia.
Kuru is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous Barun Goyot Formation of Mongolia. The genus contains only a single species, the type species Kuru kulla, which is known from a fragmentary skeleton including a partial skull.
Enantiornis is a genus of Enantiornithes. The type and only currently accepted species E. leali is from the Late Cretaceous Lecho Formation at El Brete, Argentina. It was described from specimen PVL-4035, a coracoid, proximal scapula and proximal humerus found close to each other and suspected to represent the left shoulder of a single individual.
Neuquenornis volans is a species of enantiornithean birds which lived during the late Cretaceous period in today's Patagonia, Argentina. It is the only known species of the genus Neuquenornis. Its fossils were found in the Santonian Bajo de la Carpa Formation, dating from about 85-83 million years ago. This was a sizeable bird for its time, with a tarsometatarsus 46.8mm long. Informal estimates suggest that it measured nearly 30 cm (12 in) in length excluding the tail.
The Jiufotang Formation is an Early Cretaceous geological formation in Chaoyang, Liaoning which has yielded fossils of feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds, pterosaurs, and other organisms. It is a member of the Jehol group. The exact age of the Jiufotang has been debated for years, with estimates ranging from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. New uranium-lead dates reveal the formation is deposited in the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous. Fossils of Microraptor and Jeholornis are from the Jiufotang.
The Yixian Formation is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans about 1.6 million years during the early Cretaceous period. It is known for its fossils, listed below.
Soroavisaurus is a genus of enantiornithean birds related to Avisaurus. It lived during the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. The only known species, S. australis, is known from fossils collected from the Lecho Formation of Estancia El Brete, in the southern tip of the province of Salta, Argentina. A binominal name of this animal means "Southern sister Avisaur".
Intiornis is an extinct genus of avisaurid enantiornithean birds which existed in what is now North-West Argentina during the late Cretaceous period.
Aurornis is an extinct genus of anchiornithid theropod dinosaurs from the Jurassic period of China. The genus Aurornis contains a single known species, Aurornis xui. Aurornis xui may be the most basal ("primitive") avialan dinosaur known to date, and it is one of the earliest avialans found to date. The fossil evidence for the animal pre-dates that of Archaeopteryx lithographica, often considered the earliest bird species, by about 10 million years.
Xunmenglong is a genus of compsognathid theropod dinosaur from the Huajiying Formation from Hebei Province in China. The type and only species is Xunmenglong yinliangis. The holotype material consists of a pelvis, tail base and hindlimbs that had previously been part of a chimera containing three different animals. The animal is described as being the smallest known member of Compsognathidae, being about the size of the sub-adult Scipionyx holotype specimen or approximately 0.5 meters in length.
Overoraptor is an extinct genus of paravian theropod of uncertain affinities from the Late Cretaceous Huincul Formation of Argentinian Patagonia. The genus contains a single species, O. chimentoi, known from several bones of the hands, feet, and hips alongside some vertebrae.
Khinganornis is a genus of ornithuromorph dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous Longjiang Formation of Liaoning, China. The genus contains a single species, Khinganornis hulunbuirensis, known from a nearly complete fossil preserved on a slab and counter slab. The holotype most likely represents an adult individual.
Beiguornis is a genus of bohaiornithid dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous Longjiang Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. The genus contains a single species, Beiguornis khinganensis. Beiguornis is the first and only enantiornithine known from the Longjiang Formation. In the phylogenetic analysis conducted by the describing authors, Beiguornis formed a monophyletic group with the bohaiornithids Sulcavis and Zhouornis.
Musivavis is a genus of euenantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The genus contains a single species, Musivavis amabilis, known from a nearly complete, articulated skeleton.
Daurlong is an extinct genus of dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Longjiang Formation of China. The genus contains a single species, D. wangi, known from a nearly complete skeleton. Daurlong represents the first described occurrence of a preserved intestinal region in a theropod closely related to birds.