Elbretornis
Elbretornis is an extinct genus of enantiornithine which existed in what is now Salta Province, Argentina during the late Cretaceous period. It is known from the holotype PVL 4022, left humerus and associated right radius, ulna, scapula and coracoid, recovered from the El Brete locality (Maastrichtian age), Lecho Formation of Argentina. It was named by Cyril A. Walker and Gareth J. Dyke in 2009, and the type and so far only species is Elbretornis bonapartei. The generic name refers to the "El Brete" locality, where the fossil remains were found, and the Greek word for "bird" (ornis). The specific name honors José Bonaparte.[1]
Elbretornis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | †Enantiornithes |
Genus: | †Elbretornis Walker & Dyke 2009 |
Species: | †E. bonapartei |
Binomial name | |
†Elbretornis bonapartei Walker & Dyke 2009 | |
As few elements are known from Elbretornis, it might actually belong to one of the El Brete enantiornithines known only from leg bones and described earlier, namely Lectavis, Soroavisaurus or Yungavolucris. However, Elbretornis was a smallish species, and the others were apparently all distinctly larger birds.[1]
References
- Cyril A. Walker & Gareth J. Dyke (2009). "Euenantiornithine birds from the Late Cretaceous of El Brete (Argentina)" (PDF). Irish Journal of Earth Sciences. 27: 15–62. doi:10.3318/IJES.2010.27.15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-20.