[D] Ichthyornis minusculus [~/~]
Describer
Nessov, 1990
Time
Cretaceous Late Coniacian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Avialae Nomina Dubia [Ichthyornithiformes? indet.] [Alexornithiformes]
Fossilsite
Bissekt Formation, Uzbekistan
Info
Holotype
(PO 3941) dorsal vertebra (TsNIGRI 43/11915) dorsal vertebra (6.9 mm)
The unnamed dorsal was originally referred to Zhyraornis kashkarovi. Kurochkin assigns \\\"I.\\\" minusculus to the Alexornithiformes. These two vertebrae are gently amphicoelous, with deep lateral depressions and a large neural canal (height >60% of central height). This combination of characters is only known in enantiornithines and ichthyornithiformes. \\\"I.\\\" minusculus has a D-shaped central articular surface, while the unnamed vertebra\\\'s is roughly oval. The unnamed dorsal\\\'s parapophysis is placed anterior to the transverse process, which suggest it is not enantiornithine. Perhaps it is ichthyornithiform.