Zhyraornis

probably "Dzharakuduk bird" (uncertain)

• Zhyra- · Uncertain (probably from the locality na · probably refers to the Dzharakuduk locality (uncertain)
• ornis · Greek · bird

The name ends in the Greek "ornis" (bird). The first part appears to refer to the Dzharakuduk (Dzhyrakuduk) area of Uzbekistan, where the fossils were found, but I'm not certain of this derivation. The name therefore probably means "Dzharakuduk bird".

Named by

Nesov and Borkin

Year named

1983

Period

Late Cretaceous

Stages

Turonian – Coniacian

Found in

Bissekty Formation, Dzharakuduk, Kyzyl Kum Desert, Uzbekistan

Zhyraornis is a small Late Cretaceous bird, an ornithuromorph. Birds are avian dinosaurs, so it counts as a dinosaur in the cladistic sense. It is known from fragmentary remains, and the type species is Z. kashkarovi. The etymology of the first element is not confirmed.