Musivavis

mosaic bird

• musivum · Latin · mosaic
• avis · Latin · bird

The name combines the Latin words for "mosaic" and "bird". It refers to the mosaic of primitive and advanced features seen in the skeleton of this early beak-bearing bird. The only named species is Musivavis amabilis.

Named by

Wang et al.

Year named

2015

Period

Early Cretaceous

Stage

Aptian

Found in

Jiufotang Formation, Liaoning Province, China

A small early bird (an ornithuromorph, a member of the avian dinosaurs) from the Jehol Biota. Birds are living dinosaurs, so it counts as a dinosaur in the cladistic sense. The stage and some details are given from memory, so check them against the original description.