Fortunguavis

"... bird" (the first element is uncertain)

• avis · Latin · bird

The second half of the name comes from the Latin "avis", meaning "bird". This fits an enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous of China. I am not certain what the first half, "Fortungu-", honours, so I have not guessed.

Named by

O'Connor et al.

Year named

2016

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Aptian

Found in

Jiufotang Formation, Liaoning Province, China

Fortunguavis xiaotaizicus is an enantiornithine, an extinct group of early birds. Birds are avian dinosaurs, so it counts as a dinosaur in the modern sense. It is known from a specimen with a well-preserved skeleton. The etymology of the first part of the name is unverified.