World of Dinosaurs/Confuciusornis
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Confuciusornis_skulls.png/508px-Confuciusornis_skulls.png)
Note the beak.
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Confuciusornis_primary_feathers.PNG/297px-Confuciusornis_primary_feathers.PNG)
This specimen is so well preserved that feathers are maintained.
Basics
[edit | edit source]Confuciusornis means "Confucius Bird".
Confuciusornis lived during the Cretaceous Period.
Anatomy
[edit | edit source]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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Confuciusornis_skulls.png/508px-Confuciusornis_skulls.png)
Phylogeny
[edit | edit source]Confuciusornis is a theropod.
All theropods are dinosaurs.
All dinosaurs are amniotes and all dinosaurs are tetrapods.
Biomechanics
[edit | edit source]Confuciusornis is the first bird to have a beak.
Its leg posture was also more crouched than previous theropods.
Fossil Record
[edit | edit source]It is found in some beautiful specimens in China.
Ecology
[edit | edit source]The area Confuciusornis lived was a cool climate.
Reptiles such as crocodilians are not found.
Trees were prevalent.
Biogeography
[edit | edit source]There were frequent volcanic eruptions during this time.
There was also flooding at the time.