Pengornis houi
Pengornis was a genus of Enantiornithine dinosaur (commonly known as “opposite birds”) which split from the lineage of modern birds approximately 130 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous. The group is well known for sharing many traits with modern birds, including a full coat of feathers, grasping feet, and the capability of flight (although how good they were at flying has been a subject of debate). One of their most prominent features that separates their appearance from modern birds, however, is their teeth, which they may have used to easily crunch the exoskeletons of arthropods.
The genus Pengornis currently only consists of one species, P. houi, which is known from a single, but fairly complete, fossil skeleton. It was comparable in size to modern crows, and lived approximately 120 years ago in the Early Cretaceous of what is now China.
Art by me. ?
♑ ♒ snowwolpard reblogged cry-olophosaurus
What an excellent creature. Seriously.
Beautiful plumage!
be well