Iberomesornis was a small Enantiornithine bird from the early Cretaceous time period (137-121 MYA).
Facts
In 1985 the fossil of Iberomesornis was discovered by Armando Díaz Romeral in the Early Cretaceous Calizas de La Huérguina Formation at Las Hoyas, Cuenca Province, east central Spain, which dates to the late Barremian, roughly 125 MYA. The find was first reported in 1988. In 1992 the type species Iberomesornis romerali was named and described by José Luis Sanz and José Fernando Bonaparte. The generic name is derived from Iberia and Greek μέσος, mesos, "middle", en ὄρνις, ornis, "bird", in reference to the intermediate status between the most basal and the modern birds. The specific name honours Romeral.
The holotype specimen, LH-22, part of the Las Hoyas Collection, consists of a compressed articulated partial skeleton of an adult individual lacking the skull, the anterior neck and most of the hands. A second specimen, LH-8200, was referred to a Iberomesornis sp. in 1994, consisting of the left foot of an individual similar in size to the holotype. After further preparation of the fossil, the species was redescribed by Paul Sereno in 2000.
They (like all other birds) are also said to be close relatives of Raptors.
Portrayal in the series
To be added.
Errors
- The programme's design lacks the 2 long tail feathers that the real Iberomesornis had.
- Iberomesornis is depicted with modern bird characteristics that real Enantiornithes probably lacked, such as scaly feet (all non-ornithurine feathered dinosaurs so far were discovered to have feathery feet, and some enantiornithes even have Microraptor-like hindwings), and retrices.
In Walking With... series
Walking with Dinosaurs
Giant of the Skies
In the fourth episode of Walking with Dinosaurs, Giant of the Skies, a group of Iberomesornis chase off an Ornithocheirus from their territory, as they have eggs to take care of.
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Iberomesornis