New -like bird from the Early Cretaceous of China: enantiornithine interrelationships and flight performance.

During the last decade, several -like enantiornithine species-and numerous specimens-have been recognized from the celebrated Jehol Biota of northwestern China. In this paper, we describe the anatomy of another "bohaiornithid" species from the 125 million-year-old Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The new taxon differs from previously recognized "bohaiornithids" on a number of characters from the forelimb and shoulder girdle.

New information on the anatomy of the Chinese Early Cretaceous Bohaiornithidae (Aves: Enantiornithes) from a subadult specimen of Zhouornis hani.

Enantiornithines are the most diverse avian clade in the Cretaceous. However, morphological specializations indicative of specific ecological roles are not well known for this clade. Here we report on an exquisitely well-preserved specimen from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group of northeastern China, which pedal morphology is suggestive of a unique ecological specialization within Enantiornithes.

The lissamphibian humerus and elbow joint, and the origins of modern amphibians.

The origins and evolution of the three major clades of modern amphibians are still a source of controversy, and no general consensus exists as to their relationship to the various known Paleozoic taxa. This may indicate that additional character complexes should be studied to resolve their phylogenetic relationship. The salamander elbow joint has been fundamentally misinterpreted in previous morphological descriptions.