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Mummified precocial bird wings in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Author

Listed:
  • Lida Xing

    (State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences
    School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences)

  • Ryan C. McKellar

    (Palaeontology, Royal Saskatchewan Museum
    University of Regina)

  • Min Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ming Bai

    (Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jingmai K. O’Connor

    (Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Michael J. Benton

    (School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol)

  • Jianping Zhang

    (School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences)

  • Yan Wang

    (Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University)

  • Kuowei Tseng

    (University of Taipei)

  • Martin G. Lockley

    (Dinosaur Tracks Museum, University of Colorado Denver)

  • Gang Li

    (Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science)

  • Weiwei Zhang
  • Xing Xu

    (Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Our knowledge of Cretaceous plumage is limited by the fossil record itself: compression fossils surrounding skeletons lack the finest morphological details and seldom preserve visible traces of colour, while discoveries in amber have been disassociated from their source animals. Here we report the osteology, plumage and pterylosis of two exceptionally preserved theropod wings from Burmese amber, with vestiges of soft tissues. The extremely small size and osteological development of the wings, combined with their digit proportions, strongly suggests that the remains represent precocial hatchlings of enantiornithine birds. These specimens demonstrate that the plumage types associated with modern birds were present within single individuals of Enantiornithes by the Cenomanian (99 million years ago), providing insights into plumage arrangement and microstructure alongside immature skeletal remains. This finding brings new detail to our understanding of infrequently preserved juveniles, including the first concrete examples of follicles, feather tracts and apteria in Cretaceous avialans.

Suggested Citation

  • Lida Xing & Ryan C. McKellar & Min Wang & Ming Bai & Jingmai K. O’Connor & Michael J. Benton & Jianping Zhang & Yan Wang & Kuowei Tseng & Martin G. Lockley & Gang Li & Weiwei Zhang & Xing Xu, 2016. "Mummified precocial bird wings in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12089
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12089
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