Archaeovolans repatriatus

†Archaeovolans repatriatus was an enantiornithine bird of the Early Cretaceous, discovered in the Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China. A small carnivorous tree-dwelling bird with strong clawed feet for perching and grasping, it belonged to the dominant Cretaceous bird lineage before the end-Mesozoic extinction. Its well-preserved feather impressions reveal details of Early Cretaceous avian plumage.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Archaeovolans repatriatus 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

Archaeovolans repatriatus 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.