Archaeornithura meemannae

†Archaeornithura meemannae was one of the oldest known ornithurine birds, from the Early Cretaceous Huajiying Formation of Hebei, China. A small carnivorous shorebird-like bird approximately 130 million years old, it possessed features characteristic of modern birds, pushing back the origin of ornithurines significantly. Named in 2015 in honor of palaeontologist Meemann Chang.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Archaeornithura meemannae was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Early Mesozoic Era

Archaeornithura meemannae lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145.0 to 100.5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.