Open Paleo

Jinfengopteryginae

Turner et al., 2012 Type genus Jinfengopteryx

Its genera lived 125.8–66.0 million years ago Early Cretaceous–Late Cretaceous
Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous stages

Jinfengopteryginae is a subfamily of small, bird-like troodontid dinosaurs known from the Cretaceous of Eurasia. The group contains relatively few genera, among them Jinfengopteryx, the European Tamarro, and Liaoningvenator, with some analyses also referring Philovenator and several unnamed specimens to it. Its members were small-bodied, ranging from roughly 0.5 to 2 meters long, and, like other troodontids, bore a raised sickle claw on each foot. They were feathered, with plumage around the body and neck and especially long, vaned feathers along the tail, and are thought to have been about as capable in the air as gliding forms such as Microraptor. Distinguishing features cited for the group include large antorbital openings in the skull and a forked jugal bone. Unlike most troodontids, which were primarily carnivorous, some specimens preserve possible plant material in the gut, hinting at omnivory. The monophyly of the group is contested (see dispute).

Under dispute

The validity of Jinfengopteryginae is contested. It was erected by Turner, Makovicky and Norell (2012) and recovered by Sellés and colleagues (2021), who place Jinfengopteryx, Liaoningvenator, Tamarro and Philovenator within it, but other analyses do not find it to be a meaningful monophyletic group: Hartman and colleagues (2019) recover Jinfengopteryx in a highly unstable position — as likely to fall within Sinovenatorinae as to join the Almas group — and place Liaoningvenator closer to troodontines. Pei and colleagues (2021) recover Jinfengopteryx as the sister taxon of Mei, in a clade with Sinovenator. It is retained following the analyses that recover it.

Diagnosis

  1. Enlarged triangular accessory antorbital (maxillary) fenestra
  2. Anteriorly bifurcated sublacrimal jugal
  3. Plantar displacement of the proximal end of metatarsal III relative to metatarsals II and IV

Genera placed directly in Jinfengopteryginae

  • Jinfengopteryx Ji et al., 2005 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Liaoningvenator Shen et al., 2017 Barremian (125.8–121.4 Ma)Chinaunder dispute
  • Tamarro Sellés et al., 2021 Maastrichtian (72.2–66.0 Ma)Spainunder dispute

References

  1. Turner, A. H.; Makovicky, P. J.; Norell, M. A. (2012). A Review of Dromaeosaurid Systematics and Paravian Phylogeny. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 371: 1-206. doi:10.1206/748.1

    Erected Jinfengopteryginae, with Jinfengopteryx recovered as sister to nearly all other troodontids.

    turner2012a
  2. Sellés, A. G.; Vila, B.; Brusatte, S. L.; Currie, P. J.; Galobart, À. (2021). A fast-growing basal troodontid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the latest Cretaceous of Europe. Scientific Reports 11(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-83745-5

    Recovered Jinfengopteryginae, placing Jinfengopteryx, Liaoningvenator, Tamarro and Philovenator within it.

    sellés2021a
  3. Hartman, S.; Mortimer, M.; Wahl, W. R.; Lomax, D. R.; Lippincott, J.; Lovelace, D. M. (2019). A new paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports a late acquisition of avian flight. PeerJ 7: e7247. PeerJ. doi:10.7717/peerj.7247

    Recovered Jinfengopteryx in a highly unstable position, as likely to fall within Sinovenatorinae as to join the Almas group, with Liaoningvenator closer to troodontines.

    hartman2019a
  4. Pei, R.; Qin, Y.; Wen, A.; Zhao, Q.; Wang, Z.; Liu, Z.; Guo, W.; Liu, P.; Ye, W.; Wang, L.; Yin, Z.; Dai, R.; Xu, X. (2021). A new troodontid from the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Basin of inner Mongolia, China. Cretaceous Research 130. Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105052

    Described Papiliovenator and recovered Jinfengopteryx as the sister taxon of Mei, in a clade with Sinovenator.

    pei2021a