Fukuipteryx

Fukui wing

• Fukui · Japanese · Fukui Prefecture, where the fossil was found
• pteryx · Greek · wing

The name combines Fukui, the Japanese prefecture where the fossil was found, with the Greek "pteryx", meaning "wing". It means "Fukui wing". This follows the long tradition of naming early birds and bird-like dinosaurs with "-pteryx". The type species is Fukuipteryx prima.

Named by

Imai et al.

Year named

2019

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stages

Barremian – Aptian

Found in

Kitadani Formation, Tetori Group, Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan

A small early bird (avialan) known from a well-preserved, nearly complete skeleton. It is considered a basal member of the Ornithothoraces and is one of the best-preserved Mesozoic birds from outside China. The stage range is approximate, because the age of the Kitadani Formation is not tightly constrained.