Anatomy of the Early Cretaceous bird Eoenantiornis buhleri (Aves: Enantiornithes) from China

Abstract
A detailed description of the anatomy, in particular of the skull, of Eoenantiornis is provided. This description reveals many morphological characters previously unknown for enantiornithine birds, such as presence of a distinct facet for the intramandibular articulation between the dentary and postdentary bones. Eoenantiornis documents an intermediate stage in the abbreviation of the alular digit among Ornithothoraces, which paralleled a similar transformation within Ornithuromorpha. Our analysis also indicates that Eoenantiornis belongs to the Euenantiornithes.