摘要
A recently collected specimen of Caudipteryx is described as a new species: C. dongi sp. nov. Compared with the type species of Caudipteryx (C zoui) the new species has relatively long iliums and smaller sternal plates. Uncinate Processes are present as in oviraptorids and most birds. The pubis is antero-ventrally directed as in most saurischian dinosaurs. The fibula contacts the calcaneum distally. Among the Pedal digits the third is the longest the fourth is shorter than the second, and the hallux is short with a reduced claw characteristic of cursorial animals. As in birds the hallux is opposable to the rest of digits, indicating that the ancestor of Caudipteryx might have obtained pershing or grasping power, therefore providing further evidence for the arboreal hypothesis of the origin of avian flight. The feather lacks barbules and represents either a more primitive type than in birds or a secondarily reduced one. Although Caudipteryx has several bird characters it is interpreted in this paper as a feathered dinosaur rather than a secondarily flightless bird. Caudipteryx resembles oviraptorids more than dromaeosaurids, yet it represents a lineage distinguishable from all known major maniraptorian clades, therefore we propose to erect a new family: Caudipteridae fam. nov. currently including only Caudipteryx. The characters of Caudipteryx also indicates that it was a fast running herbivorous animal.
A recently collected specimen of Caudipteryx is described as a new species: C. dongi sp. nov. Compared with the type species of Caudipteryx (C zoui) the new species has relatively long iliums and smaller sternal plates. Uncinate Processes are present as in oviraptorids and most birds. The pubis is antero-ventrally directed as in most saurischian dinosaurs. The fibula contacts the calcaneum distally. Among the Pedal digits the third is the longest the fourth is shorter than the second, and the hallux is short with a reduced claw characteristic of cursorial animals. As in birds the hallux is opposable to the rest of digits, indicating that the ancestor of Caudipteryx might have obtained pershing or grasping power, therefore providing further evidence for the arboreal hypothesis of the origin of avian flight. The feather lacks barbules and represents either a more primitive type than in birds or a secondarily reduced one. Although Caudipteryx has several bird characters it is interpreted in this paper as a feathered dinosaur rather than a secondarily flightless bird. Caudipteryx resembles oviraptorids more than dromaeosaurids, yet it represents a lineage distinguishable from all known major maniraptorian clades, therefore we propose to erect a new family: Caudipteridae fam. nov. currently including only Caudipteryx. The characters of Caudipteryx also indicates that it was a fast running herbivorous animal.
出处
《古脊椎动物学报》
CSCD
北大核心
2000年第2期111-127,166-170,共17页
Vertebrata Palasiatica
基金
中国科学院资源与生态环境研究"九五"重大项目!KZ951-B1-410
中国科学院创新工程重大项目!KZCX3-J-03
国家
关键词
辽宁北票
早白垩世
尾羽龙
Liaoning, Early Cretaceous, Caudipteryx
