| Cerebavis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Clade: | Ornithurae |
| Genus: | †Cerebavis Kurochkin et al., 2006 |
| Species: | †C. cenomanicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Cerebavis cenomanicus Kurochkin et al., 2006
| |
Cerebavis is a genus of bird that lived during the Middle Cenomanian (late Cretaceous) period, 99.6 - 93.5 Ma ago, and is known from a single brain mold found in Volgograd Region in Russia. Once considered most likely a member of the Enantiornithes, it is notable for its unusual brain, which displays some unusual features, including a well-developed olfactory system and large cerebrum, suggesting it had a well-developed sense of smell. Although fossils seldom preserve deep-brain soft anatomy, the brain of Cerebavis cenomanica may show a relatively large parietal eye and pineal gland.[1] In 2015, a reappraisal of the specimen concluded that it belonged to an ornithurine instead of an enantiornithean.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Kurochkin, E. N.; Saveliev, S. V.; Postnov, A. A.; Pervushov, E. M. & Popov, E. V. (2006). "On the brain of a primitive bird from the Upper Cretaceous of European Russia". Paleontological Journal. 40 (6): 655–67. doi:10.1134/s0031030106060086.
- ^ Walsh, Stig A.; Milner, Angela C.; Bourdon, Estelle (August 2016). "A reappraisal of Cerebavis cenomanica (Aves, Ornithurae), from Melovatka, Russia". Journal of Anatomy. 229 (2): 215–227. doi:10.1111/joa.12406. PMC 4948046. PMID 26553244.
