A new bohaiornithid-like bird from the Lower Cretaceous of China fills a gap in enantiornithine disparity

Abstract A new enantiornithine, Musivavis amabilis n. gen. sp., is reported from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, China. The taxon similar to bohaiornithids robust subconical teeth, bluntly expanded omal ends of furcula, caudolaterally oriented lateral trabeculae with triangular distal sternum, and a second pedal digit. Yet it differs members Bohaiornithidae several features recalling other enantiornithine lineages, such as acuminate rostral ramus maxilla, shape coracoid margin, presence craniolateral processes on proportions manual phalanges, unspecialized third ungual phalanx. comprehensive phylogenetic analysis Mesozoic birds shows that homoplasy significantly affects reconstruction relationships. When all characters are considered equal weight, reconstructed lineage related radiation large-bodied enantiornithines including Pengornithidae. Alternative scenarios based progressive downweighting homoplastic support more basal placements pengornithids among Enantiornithes, but do not alter affinity member “bohaiornithid-grade” group. UUID: http://zoobank.org/617c7062-21ab-4d33-ae80-4edf5a129683