A database in support of a review of the quality of the Mesozoic fossil record of birds, in:
Fountaine, T. R., Benton, M. J., Dyke, G. J. and Nudds, R. L. (2005) The quality of the fossil record of Mesozoic birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B272, 289-294.
Download the paper as a pdf and the data as an Excel file.
The Database
Our assignments of taxa to clades are based on Chiappe & Dyke (2002) and Hope (2002); see Figure 1 in the paper.
Age: standard three-letter codes for the stratigraphic stages are used; the ages in millions of years (Ma) for start and end of the timespan are indicated.
Completeness codings are: 1, single bone; 2, several bones; 3, one skeleton; 4, several skeletons.
Species | Age | Ma | Ma | Formation | Material | Completeness | 1st Described | Clade |
Alexornis antecedens | CMP | 71 | 75 | Bocana Roja | Several bones | 2 | 1976 | Enantiornithes |
Ambiortus dementjevi | VAL-BER | 132 | 144 | Khurit | Several bones | 2 | 1985 | Ornithurae |
Anatalavis rex | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Two bones | 2 | 1915 | Neornithes |
Apatornis celer | CON | 86 | 89 | Niobrara Chalk | Many bones | 2 | 1873 | Ornithurae |
Apsaravis ukhaana | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Camels Humps | Single specimen | 3 | 2001 | Ornithurae |
Archaeopteryx bavaria | TTH (L) | 146 | 151 | Solnhofen Lst | Single specimen | 3 | 1993 | Archaeopterygidae |
Archaeopteryx lithographica | TTH (L) | 146 | 151 | Solnhofen Lst | Single specimen | 3 | 1861 | Archaeopterygidae |
Archaeopteryx siemensii | TTH (L) | 146 | 151 | Solnhofen Lst | Single specimen | 3 | 1897 | Archaeopterygidae |
Archaeopteryx sp. | TTH (L) | 146 | 151 | Solnhofen Lst | Three specimens | 4 | N/A | Archaeopterygidae |
Asiahesperornis bazhanovi | SAN | 77 | 84.7 | Eginsai | Three bones | 2 | 1991 | Ornithurae |
Avisaurus archibaldi | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hell Creek | Single bone | 1 | 1985 | Enantiornithes |
Avisaurus gloriae | CMP | 71 | 74.1 | Two Medicine | Single bone | 1 | 1995 | Enantiornithes |
Baptornis advenus | CON | 86 | 89 | Niobrara Chalk | Single specimen | 3 | 1877 | Ornithurae |
Baptornis sp. | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Judith River | Single bone | 1 | N/A | Ornithurae |
Boluochia zhengi | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Several bones | 2 | 1995 | Enantiornithes |
Ceramornis major | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Single bone | 1 | 1963 | Neornithes |
Changchengornis hengdaoziensis | BRM | 121 | 127 | Chaomidianzi | Single specimen | 3 | 1999 | Confuciusornithidae |
Chaoyangia beishanensis | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Single specimen | 3 | 1993 | Enantiornithes |
Cimolopteryx maxima | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Two bones | 2 | 1963 | Neornithes |
Cimolopteryx maxima | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hell Creek | Single bone | 1 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Cimolopteryx minima | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Single bone | 1 | 1963 | Neornithes |
Cimolopteryx petra | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Single bone | 1 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Cimolopteryx rara | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Several bones | 2 | 1889 | Neornithes |
Cimolopteryx rara | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Several bones | 2 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Cimolopteryx sp. | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Frenchman | Single bone | 1 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Concornis lacustris | BRM | 121 | 127 | La Huerguina | Single specimen | 3 | 1992 | Enantiornithes |
Confuciusornis dui | BRM | 122 | 124 | Chaomidianzi | Many specimens | 4 | 1999 | Confuciusornithidae |
Confuciusornis sanctus | BRM | 122 | 124 | Chaomidianzi | Many specimens | 4 | 1995 | Confuciusornithidae |
Cuspirostrisornis houi | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Very fragmentary | 2 | 1997 | Ornithurae |
Enaliornis barretti | ALB | 99 | 112 | Gault (U) | Two bones | 2 | 1876 | Enantiornithes |
Enaliornis sedgwicki | ALB | 99 | 112 | Gault (U) | Single bone | 1 | 1876 | Enantiornithes |
Enantiornis leali | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lecho | Several bones | 2 | 1981 | Enantiornithes |
Enantiornis martini | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Very fragmentary | 2 | 1993 | Enantiornithes |
Enantiornis walkeri | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Very fragmentary | 2 | 1993 | Enantiornithes |
Eoalulavis hoyasi | BRM | 121 | 127 | La Huerguina | Single specimen | 3 | 1996 | Enantiornithes |
Eocathayornis walkeri | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Several bones | 2 | 2002 | Enantiornithes |
Eoenantiornis buhleri | BRM | 121 | 127 | Yixian | Single specimen | 3 | 1999 | Enantiornithes |
Eurolimnornis corneti | BRM-HAU | 121 | 132 | Wealden(equiv) | Three bones | 2 | 1986 | Neornithes |
Gallornis satraeleni | NEO | 121 | 144 | Auxerre | Single bone | 1 | 1931 | Neornithes |
Gansus yumenensis | ALB-BER | 99 | 144 | Xiagou | Several bones | 2 | 1984 | Neornithes |
Gargantuavis philoinos | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Bastide-Neuve | Several bones | 2 | 1998 | Ornithurae |
Gobipteryx minuta | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Djadokhta | Several bones | 2 | 1974 | Enantiornithes |
Graculavus augustus | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance (U) | Single bone | 1 | 1999 | Neornithes |
Graculavus velox | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Single bone | 1 | 1872 | Neornithes |
Gurilynia nessovi | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Nemegt | Two bones | 2 | 1999 | Indet. |
Halimornis thompsoni | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Mooreville | Several bones | 2 | 2002 | Enantiornithes |
Hesperornis gracilus | CON | 86 | 89 | Niobrara Chalk | Single bone | 1 | 1898 | Ornithurae |
Hesperornis regalis | CON | 86 | 89 | Smoky Hill | Several bones | 2 | 1872 | Ornithurae |
Hesperornis regalis | CON | 86 | 89 | Niobrara Chalk | Many specimens | 4 | 1872 | Ornithurae |
Hesperornis regalis | CMP (L) | 71 | 83.5 | Vermilion River | Many bones | 2 | 1872 | Ornithurae |
Hesperornis regalis | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Foremost | Single bone | 1 | 1872 | Ornithurae |
Hesperornis regalis | MAA | 70 | 72 | Bylot | Several bones | 2 | 1872 | Ornithurae |
Hesperornis sp. | CMP-TUR | 71 | 93.5 | Kanguk | Several bones | 2 | N/A | Ornithurae |
Horezmavis eocretacea | ALB (U) | 99 | 112 | Khodzhakul | Single bone | 1 | 1983 | Neornithes |
Iberomesornis romerali | BRM | 121 | 127 | La Huerguina | Single specimen | 3 | 1992 | Enantiornithes |
Ichthyornis dispar | CON | 86 | 89 | Niobrara Chalk | Single specimen | 3 | 1872 | Ornithurae |
Ichthyornis sp. | CEN | 94 | 99 | Belle Fourche | Several bones | 2 | N/A | Ornithurae |
Ichthyornis sp. | TUR (L) | 89 | 93.5 | Kaskapau | Single bone | 1 | N/A | Ornithurae |
Ichthyornis sp. | TUR (L) | 89 | 93.5 | Mancos Shale | Single bone | 1 | N/A | Ornithurae |
Ichthyornis sp. | CMP (L) | 71 | 83.5 | Vermilion River | Single bone | 1 | N/A | Ornithurae |
indet. | BRM-HAU | 99 | 144 | La Pedrera | Several bones | 2 | 1997 | Indet. |
indet. | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Rio Colorado | Several bones | 2 | 1991 | Indet. |
indet. | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Bastide-Neuve | Single bone | 1 | 2000 | Indet. |
indet. | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Maastricht | Several bones | 2 | 2002 | Indet. |
indet. | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Several bones | 2 | 1987 | Indet. |
indet. | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Single bone | 1 | 1987 | Indet. |
indet. | DAN-MAA | 61 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Single bone | 1 | 1987 | Indet. |
Jeholornis prima | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Single specimen | 3 | 2002 | Ornithurae |
Judinornis nogontsavensis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Nemegt | Single bone | 1 | 1983 | Indet. |
Kizylkumavis cretacea | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Single bone | 1 | 1994 | Indet. |
Kuszholia mengi | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Several bones | 2 | 1992 | Indet. |
Laornis edvardsianus | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Single bone | 1 | 1870 | Neornithes |
Largirostornis sexdentoris | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Fragmentary | 2 | 1997 | Ornithurae |
Lectavis bretincola | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lecho | Two bones | 2 | 1993 | Enantiornithes |
Lenesornis maltshevskyi | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Several bones | 2 | 1986 | Indet. |
Liaoningornis longidigitris | BRM | 121 | 127 | Yixian | Several bones | 2 | 1997 | Enantiornithes |
Liaoxiornis delicatus | BRM | 121 | 127 | Yixian | Single specimen | 3 | 1999 | Enantiornithes |
Limenavis patagonica | MAA (L) | 65 | 71.3 | Allen (L) | Many bones | 2 | 2001 | Ornithurae |
Lonchengornis sanyanensis | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Fragmentary | 2 | 1997 | Indet. |
Londchodytes estesi | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance (U) | Single bone | 1 | 1963 | Indet. |
Londchodytes pterygius | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance (U) | Single bone | 1 | 1963 | Indet. |
Longipteryx chaoyangensis | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | Single specimen | 3 | 2001 | Enantiornithes |
Nanantius eos | ALB | 112 | 121 | Toolebuc | Single bone | 1 | 1986 | Enantiornithes |
Nanantius sp. | ALB | 112 | 121 | Toolebuc | Two bones | 2 | N/A | Enantiornithes |
Neogaeornis wetzeli | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Quiriquina | Single bone | 1 | 1929 | Indet. |
Neuquenornis volans | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Rio Colorado | Single specimen | 3 | 1994 | Enantiornithes |
Noguerornis gonzalezi | BRM-HAU | 121 | 132 | La Pedrera | Single specimen | 3 | 1989 | Enantiornithes |
Omnivoropteryx sinousaorum | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang (U) | Single specimen | 3 | 2002 | Enantiornithes |
Otogornis genghisi | BER | 137 | 144 | Yijingholuo | Several bones | 2 | 1994 | Ornithurae |
Palaeocursornis corneti | BRM-HAU | 121 | 132 | Wealden(equiv) | Single bone | 1 | 1984 | Neornithes |
Palaeotringa littoralis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Single bone | 1 | 1870 | Neornithes |
Palaeotringa littoralis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Single bone | 1 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Palaeotringa vagans | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Single bone | 1 | 1872 | Neornithes |
Palintropus retusus | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Single bone | 1 | 1892 | Neornithes |
Palintropus sp. | CMP | 71 | 83,5 | Dinosaur Park | Several bones | 2 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Parahesperornis alexi | CON | 86 | 89 | Niobrara Chalk | Single Specimen | 3 | 1984 | Ornithurae |
Parascaniornis stensioi | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Ivo | Single bone | 1 | 1933 | Ornithurae |
Pasquiaornis hardiei | CEN | 94 | 99 | Belle Fourche | Several bones | 2 | 1997 | Ornithurae |
Pasquiaornis tankei | CEN | 94 | 99 | Belle Fourche | Many bones | 2 | 1997 | Ornithurae |
Patagopteryx deferrarisi | CMP | 71 | 83.5 | Rio Colorado | One specimen | 3 | 1992 | Ornithurae |
Piksi barbarulna | CMP | 71 | 74.1 | Two Medicine | Three bones | 2 | 2002 | Indet. |
Platanavis nana | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Several bones | 2 | 1992 | Indet. |
Protopteryx fengningensis | BRM | 121 | 127 | Yixian | Two specimens | 4 | 2000 | Ornithurae |
Rahonavis ostromi | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Maevarano | Many bones | 2 | 1998 | Archaeopterygidae |
Sapeornis chaoyangensis | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang (L) | Single Specimen | 3 | 2002 | Archaeopterygidae |
Sazavis priscia | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Single bone | 1 | 1989 | Indet. |
Sinornis santensis | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang (L) | Several specimens | 4 | 1992 | Enantiornithes |
Soroavisaurus australis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lecho | Several bones | 2 | 1993 | Enantiornithes |
Telmatornis priscus | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Navesink | Several bones | 2 | 1870 | Neornithes |
Teviornis gobiensis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Nemegt | Several bones | 2 | 2002 | Neornithes |
Torotix clemensi | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lance | Single bone | 1 | 1963 | Neornithes |
Tytthostonyx glauconiticus | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Hornerstown | Several bones | 2 | 1870 | Neornithes |
Volgavis marina | MAA (U) | 65 | 71.3 | Krasnaja | Single bone | 1 | 1989 | Indet. |
Vorona berivotrensis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Maevarano | Several bones | 2 | 1996 | Archaeopterygidae |
Wellnhoferia grandis | TTH (L) | 146 | 151 | Solnhofen Lst | Single specimen | 4 | 2001 | Archaeopterygidae |
Wyleyia valdensis | BRM-HAU | 121 | 132 | Wealden | Single bone | 1 | 1973 | Enantiornithes |
Yanornis martini | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | One specimen | 3 | 2001 | Ornithurae |
Yixianornis grabaui | ALB-APT | 99 | 121 | Jiufotang | One specimen | 3 | 2001 | Ornithurae |
Yungavolucris brevipedalis | MAA | 65 | 71.3 | Lecho | Several bones | 2 | 1993 | Enantiornithes |
Zhyraornis kashkarovi | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Several bones | 2 | 1984 | Indet. |
Zhyraornis logunovi | CON | 86 | 89 | Bissektinskaya | Single bone | 1 | 1992 | Indet. |