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Li, Li; Duan, Ye; , Hu; Dongyu; Wang Li; Cheng, Shaoli; and Hou, Lianhai (2006) 1 Introduction New Eoenantiornithid Bird from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Western Liaoning, China Acta Geologica Sinica Vol 80 No1 Feb 2006

Abstract: Enantionithine birds are the most blooming branch of early birds and have distinct diversities. A large number of enantionithine birds have been reported from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning, China. Recently, we discovered a new eoenantiornithid bird from the Jiufotang Formation in Dapingfang Town, western Liaoning. A new eoenantiornithid bird, Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus gen. et sp. nov., is erected based on this complete skeleton with a skull. The new bird is distinguished from other known Mesozoic birds in a medium to small size, a distinct thorn-like process on the nasals, a sternum with a long and a short lateral processes. The thorn-like process on the nasal has not been discovered among known fossil birds, thus the discovery also provides new materials on the diversities of early birds. Key words: Eoenantiornithid, Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus, Jiufotang Formation, Early Cretaceous, western Liaoning