Explorornis

"explorer bird" (probable)

• explor- · Latin · to explore (probable root; not confirmed)
• ornis · Greek · bird

The name ends in the Greek "ornis", meaning "bird". The first part appears to come from the Latin-derived "explore", but I can't confirm from memory why the authors chose it. Explorornis is a small enantiornithine bird known from fragmentary fossils.

Named by

Panteleev, Popov and Averianov

Year named

2004

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stages

Turonian – Coniacian

Found in

Bissekty Formation, Dzharakuduk, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan

Explorornis is an enantiornithine bird, so it is an avian dinosaur. It is not a non-avian dinosaur. The authorship, date, stages and etymology are from memory and should be checked. A second species, E. walkeri, was named later.