Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Confuciusornithiformes
Family: Confuciusornithidae
Genus: Confuciusornis

Living during the early Cretaceous, C. sanctus was a primitive bird similar in many respects to the older and more famous Archaeopteryx. Both were likely capable of some form of flight, both were covered in feathers, and both had numerous theropodian traits. C. Sanctus differs in that it did not have the teeth or long tail of Archaeopteryx. Rather, it possessed the first known pygostyle – a fusion of the posterior vertebrate used to support muscle and two streamer-like tail feathers. Although not directly related to modern birds, C. sanctus is nonetheless an important component of avian evolutionary history.

Type Species: Confuciusornis Sanctus

Hou, L; Zhou, Z; Gu, Y; and Zhang, H. (1995). [Description of Confuciusornis sanctus]. Chinese Science Bulletin 10, pp. 61-63.

Locality: Liaoning Province, China.

Scientific Resources:

Zhou, Z; and Zhang, F. (2005). Discovery of an ornithurine bird and its implication for Early Cretaceous avian radiation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 102, No. 52, 18998-19002.

Zhou, Z; and Martin, LD. (1998). Confuciusornis sanctus Compared to Archaeopteryx lithographica. Naturwissenschaften, Vol. 85, pp. 286-289.

Hou, L; Martin, LD; Zhou, Z; and Feduccia, A. (1996). Early Adaptive Radiation of Birds: Evidence from Fossils from Northeastern China. Science 15, Vol. 274, No. 5290, pp. 1164-1167.