Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) birds and pterosaurs from the Cornet bauxite mine, Romania

摘要: We revisit a small but extremely significant collection of bird and pterosaur bones from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian) western Romania. These fossils were collected in late 1970s early 1980s conglomerate lens deep bauxite mine at Cornet, close to city Oradea, Romania, they caused sensation when first described. Some initially ascribed genus Archaeopteryx as well modern clade Neornithes, an astonishing avian assemblage if correct. Described pterosaurs include dsungaripterids cervical vertebra that is likely oldest azhdarchid known Europe perhaps world. Not only does Cornet support Eurasian origin for this clade, it also because its size: one smallest representatives yet reported. Aside their phylogenetic affinities, these unique Romanian are important age; particular, very few birds globally earliest Cretaceous. Re-examination collections Oradea confirms presence both bauxite: although fragmentary remains mostly indeterminate, record hesperornithiform confirmed. There no evidence site while two supposed neornithines (Palaeocursornis biharicus Kessler Jurcsak Eurolimnornis corneti Jurcsak) based on undiagnostic here regarded nomina dubia.