RE: Eoconfuciusornis, Paraprotopteryx, Pengornis, Aberratiodontus and other basal birds

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Mickey Mortimer wrote:


> [snip] Protarchaeopterygidae (Incisivosaurus and Protarchaeopteryx) as the 
> ultimate outgroup.  


Clade Protarchaeopterygidae has not been named yet, AFAIK.


> Wyleyia being a dromaeosaurid is an intriguing result.


Soon you'll be able to put _Yaverlandia_ in your matrix.  :-)


> Eoconfuciusornis was just described last month. Zhang et al. claim it to be a 
> stem-confuciusornithid (outside the Confuciusornis + 
> Changchengornis clade). [snip] The only seemingly valid character is the 
> lower 
> deltopectoral crest. In my analysis, it comes out closer to Confuciusornis 
> than to Changchengornis, the latter which may not even be a 
> confuciusornithid. This is based on manual
> phalanx II-2 being longer than II-1 (a primitive character, but a reversal 
> since Jixiangornis, Dalianraptor, Yandangornis and 
> omnivoropterygids have short II-2 phalanges), as well as the non-included 
> characters enlarged surangular foramen, furcular arm 
> with>20% of arm length, and manual phalanx II-2 bowed. 


There is the matter of the toothless beak, shared by _Confuciusornis_ and 
_Changchengornis_ (and _Eoconfuciusornis_ too).  Then again, this re-evolved 
many times in theropod phylogeny, so why not one more time?


>juvenile enantiornithines like GMV-2159, Jibeinia and Protopteryx have 
>elongate retrices. I would argue it's a juvenile Confuciusornis if not 
> or the coracoid foramen, apparently well developed dorsal ulnar condyle, and 
> pubic foot.


_Changchengornis_ is also reported to have a longer hallux than 
_Confuciusornis_, thus making it a better 'percher'.


> Paraprotopteryx was described last year by Zheng et al. and said to be most 
> closely related to Protopteryx
 

(_Paraprotopteryx_, _Protarcharchaeopteryx_, _Eoconfuciusornis_.... you have to 
marvel at the inventiveness of these names_).


As for the tree, I like the idea of _Pedopenna_ as a basal avialan, but 
_Archaeopteryx_ as the basal avian.  It's interesting that _Enaliornis_ falls 
out of the Hesperornithes, and that _Chaoyangia_ comes out as an avisaurid.


Cheers

Tim
_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself wherever you are. Mobilize!
http://www.gowindowslive.com/Mobile/Landing/Messenger/Default.aspx?Locale=en-US?ocid=TAG_APRIL