Zhongornis

China bird (approximately)

• Zhong · Chinese · China (Zhōng)
• ornis · Greek · bird

Zhongornis combines a Chinese element, Zhong, usually taken as referring to China, with the Greek word ornis, meaning "bird". It names a small, early bird from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of north-eastern China. The type species is Zhongornis haoae. I'm not certain of the authors' exact reasoning for the Chinese element.

Named by

Gao et al.

Year named

2008

Period

Early Cretaceous

Found in

Yixian Formation (Jianshangou Beds), Liaoning Province, China

Known from a single juvenile specimen of an early bird (an avialan, so technically an avian dinosaur). It has an unusually short, fused tail, and its exact position among early birds is debated. The stage and locality details are from memory, so check them.