Bohaiornithidae
Early Cretaceous predatory stem-birds from northeastern China.
They were a prominent and probably predatory group within that fauna, defined in 2014 as the natural group descended from the common ancestor of Bohaiornis guoi and Shenqiornis mengi.
Quick Facts
- Type species
- Bohaiornis guoi
Facts from the source article.
Description
Adult bohaiornithids were similar in size and appearance to one another, lacking the diversity of groups like longipterygids. The largest presumed adults, such as the holotype of Zhouornis and a referred Bohaiornis specimen, reached pigeon size, much larger than most Jehol enantiornitheans except Pengornis and Xiangornis; the smallest specimens were about half that size. Like most enantiornitheans they had teeth rather than a beak, but their teeth were large, robust, conical, and sharply tipped with backward curvature. The first few premaxillary teeth were smaller than the rest, while front teeth were larger than rear ones. They typically lacked teeth only on the throatward half of the mandible and two-thirds of the maxilla, unlike many relatives. Their sternum bore lateral trabeculae that extended backward and outward. The furcula tips were wide and rounded, the scapulae curved slightly downward, and the pygostyle tapered gradually. The second toe was thicker than the others, the third toe long and thin, and all toe claws were very long and curved.
Paleoecology
A referred adult Bohaiornis specimen was initially reported with several rocks in its stomach region, thought to be gastroliths for digestion or for cleaning the digestive tract, similar to living birds of prey. However, these rocks were later identified as mineral concretions formed from the same mineral as the fossil, so they do not indicate diet. Bohaiornithid foot proportions fell between those of arboreal and terrestrial birds, but their long claws make terrestrial habits unlikely. They lacked specialized foot features for perching or climbing tree trunks. While long claws occur in modern raptors, bohaiornithids had short tarsometatarsals unlike most raptors except Perninae. Their leg proportions most resembled those of ospreys, suggesting possible piscivory, yet their teeth indicate a diet of hard-shelled creatures.
Classification
In a 2026 analysis, Plumadraco, a new bohaiornithid with elongated tail plumes, was placed close to Sulcavis and CUGB P1202. Junornis and Gretcheniao were recovered as the earliest-diverging members. Shenqiornis, traditionally used to define the family, was excluded from Bohaiornithidae in that study.
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