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World of Dinosaurs/Confuciusornis

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Basics

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Confuciusornis means "Confucius Bird".

Confuciusornis lived during the Cretaceous Period.

Anatomy

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Confuciusornis is about the size of a crow.

Confuciusornis is an early bird, while also having some theropod traits.

It is the oldest known bird to have a beak.

Note the beak.

Phylogeny

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Confuciusornis is a theropod.

All theropods are dinosaurs.

All dinosaurs are amniotes and all dinosaurs are tetrapods.

Biomechanics

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Confuciusornis is the first bird to have a beak.

Its leg posture was also more crouched than previous theropods.

Fossil Record

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It is found in some beautiful specimens in China.

This specimen is so well preserved that feathers are maintained.

Ecology

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The area Confuciusornis lived was a cool climate.

Reptiles such as crocodilians are not found.

Trees were prevalent.

Biogeography

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There were frequent volcanic eruptions during this time.

There was also flooding at the time.