A reappraisal of Boluochia zhengi (Aves: Enantiornithes) and a discussion of intraclade diversity in the Jehol avifauna, China

摘要

A careful reappraisal of the only known specimen of the poorly understood fossil enantiorni thine bird Boluochia zhengi reveals numerous morphological similarities that suggest this taxon is closely related to the well-known Longipteryx chaoyangensis, and so is assignable to the most diverse recognized clade of Early Cretaceous enantiornithines, the Longipterygidae. This new study of the holotype of B. zhengi reveals new longipterygid synapomorphies and expands our knowledge of the temporal and geographical ranges and diversity of the clade. We suggest that the trophic specialization that characterizes longipterygids may have been a major factor contributing to the success of this clade.