Avimaia schweitzerae

† Avimaia schweitzerae was an Early Cretaceous enantiornithine bird from the Xiagou Formation of Gansu Province, China. Uniquely, this small carnivore preserves an in-ovo egg with pathological shell layering, providing direct evidence for egg-laying stress in ancient birds. Named in honor of paleontologist Mary Schweitzer, it offers rare reproductive biology data.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Avimaia schweitzerae 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

Avimaia schweitzerae 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.