In 2022, Herrera et al. describedYatenavis ieujensis, a new genus and species of enantiornithine, based on these fossil remains. The generic name, "Yatenavis", combines the Aonikenk word for "stone" with the Latin word "avis", meaning "bird". The specific name, "ieujensis", is derived from "ieuj", the Aonikenk word for "snow". Yatenavis represents the eighth enantiornithine named from South America.[1]
Description
Herrera et al. (2022) concluded that Yatenavis would have had a body size comparable to extantsparrows. The fossil material bears similar features to Late Cretaceous enantiornithines from various locations across the world, including Madagascar, North America, Patagonia, and Central Asia.[1]
Paleoecology
Yatenavis represents the southernmost record of enantiornithines. As enantiornithines are uncommon in high-latitude and cold environments (which were more frequently inhabited by ornithurines), the discovery of Yatenavis in the Chorrillo Formation is surprising. Yatenavis coexisted with the ornithurine Kookne and a large indeterminate enantiornithine.[1] Non-avian dinosaurs, including the elasmarianornithopodIsasicursor, the titanosaurianNullotitan, and the megaraptoridMaip, have also been named from the Chorrillo Formation.[2][3]
References
^ abcdeHerrera, Gerardo Álvarez; Agnolín, Federico; Rozadilla, Sebastián; Lo Coco, Gastón E.; Manabe, Makoto; Tsuihiji, Takanobu; Novas, Fernando E. (2022-12-16). "New enantiornithine bird from the uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of southern Patagonia, Argentina". Cretaceous Research. 144: 105452. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105452. ISSN0195-6671. S2CID254804249.
