Intiornis, new enantiornithine bird from Argentina

[bh480@scn.org]

From: Ben Creisler
bh480@scn.org

In case this new paper has not been mentioned yet:

Fernando Emilio Novas, Federico Lisandro Agnolín, Carlos 
Agustín Scanferla (2010) 
New enantiornithine bird (Aves, Ornithothoraces) from the 
Late Cretaceous of NW Argentina.
Comptes Rendus Palevol (advance online publication)
Doi : 10.1016/j.crpv.2010.09.005

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.

 http://www.em-consulte.com/article/274198