Available for editorial, museum & print licensing — inquiries & rates →
An early, avialan theropod from the Early Cretaceous of China. Jeholornis had large wings, and a tail fan (apparently just for display) at the end of a long, bony tail. The shoulder of Jeholornis allowed a larger flapping motion than in Archaeopteryx, but smaller than in modern birds. The big wings were clearly used aerodynamically, but the limited flapping power and absence of a specialized flap-recovery mechanism suggests Jeholornis was a limited flier. Some specimens of Jeholornis preserve fossilized seeds in its gut, indicating at least a partly seed-eating diet. Since Jeholornis lacked a retroverted hallux, it presumably foraged for seeds and other food on the forest floor.
