Cathayornis yandica

† Cathayornis yandica was an enantiornithine bird from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China. As a member of the dominant Mesozoic bird group, it was a small, arboreal carnivore with robust perching feet, small teeth, and a fan-shaped tail. It is among the best-known enantiornithines from the Jehol Biota, and multiple specimens have clarified its anatomy. Cathayornis contributes to understanding the ecological diversity of Early Cretaceous birds in what is now northeastern China.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Cathayornis yandica 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

Cathayornis yandica 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.