Bauxitornis

Bauxitornis is an extinct genus of avisaurid enantiornithean birds which lived in what is now Hungary during the late Cretaceous period (Santonian age).[1] Although first mentioned in a 2008 review of Hungarian Cretaceous bird fossils, it was named in a more comprehensive review by Gareth J. Dyke and Attila Ősi in 2010. The type species is Bauxitornis mindszentyae. The generic name "Bauxitornis" refers to the locality at which it was discovered, a Bauxite mine. The specific name "mindszentyae" honors Andrea Mindszenty, Ősi's advisor.[1]

Bauxitornis
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 85 Ma
↓
Holotype right tarsometatarsus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: †Enantiornithes
Family: †Avisauridae
Genus: †Bauxitornis
Dyke & Ősi, 2010
Species:
†B. mindszentyae
Binomial name
†Bauxitornis mindszentyae
Dyke & Ősi, 2010

Description

The holotype of Bauxitornis is MTV V 2009.31.1 (previously known as MTM Gyn/439), a right tarsometatarsus. At 51 mm (2 inches) in length, this bone indicates that Bauxitornis was a comparatively large enantiornithean similar to Soroavisaurus and Avisaurus.[1]

In addition, several other traits support the placement of Bauxitornis as an avisaurid. The inside edge of the trochlea (toe joint) of metatarsal III (the middle preserved ankle bone) possesses a small but noticeable bony tab (known as a plantar projection) which extends towards the underside of the ankle. Although the tarsometatarsas is mostly unfused, the proximal (near) parts of metatarsals II and III have fused together into a flat area that extends about a third the length of their shafts. The proximal end of the tarsometatarsus bends laterally (outwards).[1]

However, Bauxitornis can be distinguished from these other enantiornitheans due to having a shortened metatarsal II (the innermost preserved ankle bone) without a tubercule (scarred bump) for the M. tibialis cranialis muscle. In addition, Bauxitornis's longest metatarsal is metatarsal IV (the outermost preserved ankle bone) rather than metatarsal III.[1]

References
  1. Gareth J. Dyke; Attila Ősi (2010). "A review of Late Cretaceous fossil birds from Hungary". Geological Journal. 45 (4): 434–444. doi:10.1002/gj.1209.


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