Abstract
Bellulia rectusunguis SP. NOV. Holotype: IVPP V17970, a nearly complete and articulated skeleton with an aggregate of gastroliths in the abdominal region and feather traces preserved in a single slab, missing the skull (Figs 1, 2; Table 1). Etymology: Species name is derived from the Latin words ‘rectus’ (straight) and ‘unguis’ (claw), referring to the barely curved manual claws characterizing this taxon. Locality and horizon: Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, northeastern China; Lower Cretaceous, Jiufotang Formation (He et al., 2004). Diagnosis: A large basal ornithuromorph bird that can be distinguished from other ornithuromorphs by the unique combination of the following features: V-shaped furcula with a short hypocleidium; sternum bearing elongated lateral trabecula with fan-shaped distal expansion; broad cranial margin of sternum with obtuse angle defined by coracoidal sulci of 113°; manual claws nearly straight; proximal ends of metatarsals II– IV coplanar; metatarsal IV robust (autapomorphy); hallucal ungual reduced; and intermebral index (humerus + ulna + carpometacarpus/ femur + tibiotarsus + tarsometatarsus) of 1.21.
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