Kingdom Animalia Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata | |
Clade †Confuciusornithiformes Similar Changchengornis, Confuciusornithidae, Eoconfuciusornis, Eoenantiornis, Boluochia | ||
Jinzhouornis is a dubious genus of prehistoric birds. Their fossils have found in rocks of the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province (PRC), dating from the Early Cretaceous (early Aptian, about 125 million years ago).
Two species have been named, but they are of doubtful validity. J. yixianensis is hardly distinct from the taxa the better-known genus Confuciusornis and was at least a very close relative. J. zhangjiyingia even appears to be a junior synonym of Confuciusornis sanctus. However, settling these questions would require a thorough restudy of the Jinzhouornis specimens, comparing them with the numerous and quite variable fossils of Confuciusornis.
Etymology
They are named after their locations of discovery. Jinzhouornis means "Jinzhou bird", from Jinzhou (Yi County, Liaoning, where the type specimen of J. yixianensis was found) + Ancient Greek ornis (όρνις) "bird". yixianensis (Latin for "from Yixian") refers to the formation where it was found and which in turn was named for Yixian County. zhangjiyingia is Latin for "from Zhangjiying", a city near the type locality Heitizigou.