The morphology and phylogenetic position of Apsaravis ukhaana from the late Cretaceous of Mongolia. American Museum novitates ; no. 3387

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dc.contributor.authorClarke, Julia A.en_US
dc.contributor.authorNorell, Mark.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMongolian-American Museum Paleontological Project.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMongolyn ShinzhlÄ—kh Ukhaany Akademi.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2005-10-06T16:41:25Z
dc.date.available2005-10-06T16:41:25Z
dc.date.issued2002en_US
dc.description46 p. : ill., map ; 26 cm.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 32-36).en_US
dc.description.abstractThe avialan taxon Apsaravis ukhaana from the late Cretaceous of southern Mongolia is completely described and its phylogenetic position is evaluated. Apsaravis ukhaana is from continental sandstones exposed at the locality of Ukhaa Tolgod, Omnogov Aimag, Mongolia. The holotype specimen consists of the nearly complete, articulated skeleton of a small volant avialan. Apsaravis ukhaana is unambiguously differentiated from other avialans based on the presence of several unique morphologies: a strong tubercle on the proximal humerus, a hypertrophied trochanteric crest on the femur, and extremely well-projected posterior wings of a surface of the distal tibiotarsus that in Aves articulates with the tibial cartilage. Ten other homoplastic characters optimize as autapomorphies of Apsaravis ukhaana in the phylogenetic analysis. They are as follows: ossified mandibular symphysis; dentary strongly forked posteriorly; hooked acromion process on scapula; highly angled dorsal condyle of humerus; humeral condyles weakly defined; distal edge of humerus angling strongly ventrally; humerus flared dorsoventrally at its distal terminus; lateral condyle of tibiotarsus wider than medial one; neither condyle of tibiotarsus tapering toward the midline; and metatarsal II trochlea rounded rather than ginglymoid. Phylogenetic placement of Apsaravis ukhaana as the sister taxon of Hesperornithes + Aves resulted from analysis of 202 characters scored for 17 avialan ingroup taxa. The implications of Apsaravis ukhaana, and the results of the phylogenetic analysis, for the evolution of flight after its origin and character support for enantiornithine monophyly are extensively discussed.en_US
dc.format.extent2585825 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2246/2876
dc.languageengen_US
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherNew York, NY : American Museum of Natural Historyen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesAmerican Museum novitates ; no. 3387en_US
dc.subject.lccQL1 .A436 no.3387 2002en_US
dc.subject.lcshApsaravis ukhaana.en_US
dc.subject.lcshBirds, Fossil -- Mongolia -- Ukhaa Tolgod.en_US
dc.subject.lcshPaleontology -- Cretaceous -- Mongolia -- Ukhaa Tolgod.en_US
dc.subject.lcshPaleontology -- Mongolia -- Ukhaa Tolgod.en_US
dc.subject.lcshBirds -- Evolution.en_US
dc.subject.lcshBirds -- Flight.en_US
dc.subject.lcshEnantiornithiformes -- Phylogeny.en_US
dc.titleThe morphology and phylogenetic position of Apsaravis ukhaana from the late Cretaceous of Mongolia. American Museum novitates ; no. 3387en_US
dc.typetexten_US

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