Misplaced Pages

#735264

71-601: Beipiaosaurus / ˌ b eɪ p j aʊ ˈ s ɔː r ə s / is a genus of therizinosauroid theropod dinosaurs that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous in the Yixian Formation . The first remains were found in 1996 and formally described in 1999. Before the discovery of Yutyrannus , Beipiaosaurus were among the heaviest dinosaurs known from direct evidence to be feathered. Beipiaosaurus

142-438: A pygostyle , three chevrons , an incomplete furcula and scapula , both coracoids , both forelimbs, both ilia , an incomplete pubis , an incomplete ischium , a femur , both tibiae (one incomplete), an incomplete fibula , the astragalus and calcaneum , several tarsals , metatarsals , manual and pedal unguals , and skin impressions of the primitive plumage. The pelvic girdle and caudal vertebrae were discovered during

213-410: A bird of its size, there are many species where the furcula is completely absent, for instance scrubbirds , some toucans and New World barbets , some owls , some parrots , turacos , and mesites . These birds are still fully capable of flying. They also have close relatives where the furcula is vestigial, reduced to a thin strap of ossified ligament, seemingly purposeless. Other species have evolved

284-427: A broad arc in either specimen, indicating that they were fairly stiff. They were probably hollow, at least at the base. In 2009 during an interview at Live Science , Xu stated: "Both are definitely not for flight, inferring the function of some structures of extinct animals would be very difficult, and in this case, we are not quite sure whether these feathers are for display or some other functions." He speculated that

355-404: A brownish colouration like those in modern reptiles which fall within the range of dark brownish colourations. Jianchangosaurus is another primitive therizinosaur taxon known from the same formation that was found with impressions of a series of filamentous and unbranched feathers in its holotype specimen. Only the distal ends of the feather impressions are visible and based on their morphology

426-465: A diverse group of insects, and fish such as Lycoptera . Most vertebrates in this formation showed a tendency to become arboreal , including many tree-dwelling birds, and climbing mammals and lizards. The flora was dominated by conifers related to modern species that are found mainly in subtropical and temperate upland forests, with the presence of ferns, cycads, and horsetails. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Genus The composition of

497-411: A generic three-toed pes instead of four as seen in other members. The exact classification of therizinosaurs had in the past been hotly debated, since their prosauropod -like teeth and body structure indicate that they were generally herbivorous, unlike typical theropods. Beipiaosaurus , being considered to be a primitive therizinosauroid, has features which suggest that all therizinosauroids, including

568-407: A genus is determined by taxonomists . The standards for genus classification are not strictly codified, so different authorities often produce different classifications for genera. There are some general practices used, however, including the idea that a newly defined genus should fulfill these three criteria to be descriptively useful: Moreover, genera should be composed of phylogenetic units of

639-651: A later homonym of a validly published name is a nomen illegitimum or nom. illeg. ; for a full list refer to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants and the work cited above by Hawksworth, 2010. In place of the "valid taxon" in zoology, the nearest equivalent in botany is " correct name " or "current name" which can, again, differ or change with alternative taxonomic treatments or new information that results in previously accepted genera being combined or split. Prokaryote and virus codes of nomenclature also exist which serve as

710-628: A long time and redescribed as new by a range of subsequent workers, or if a range of genera previously considered separate taxa have subsequently been consolidated into one. For example, the World Register of Marine Species presently lists 8 genus-level synonyms for the sperm whale genus Physeter Linnaeus, 1758, and 13 for the bivalve genus Pecten O.F. Müller, 1776. Within the same kingdom, one generic name can apply to one genus only. However, many names have been assigned (usually unintentionally) to two or more different genera. For example,

781-706: A re-excavation of the fossil quarry where the first elements of the holotype were found. These rediscovered elements helped to complete the holotype specimen. A second specimen, STM 31-1 , a partial skeleton, was described by Xu et al. 2009, which preserves a significant covering of unique, elongated feathers. This specimen consisted of a complete skull, a sclerotic ring, the mandible, the atlas and axis bones, nine additional cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, seventeen cervical ribs, twelve dorsal ribs, both scapulae and coracoids, one complete humerus and proximal humerus, one complete radius and distal radius, one complete ulna and distal ulna, carpals, and some metacarpals. The rear of

SECTION 10

#1732791414736

852-409: A reference for designating currently accepted genus names as opposed to others which may be either reduced to synonymy, or, in the case of prokaryotes, relegated to a status of "names without standing in prokaryotic nomenclature". An available (zoological) or validly published (botanical) name that has been historically applied to a genus but is not regarded as the accepted (current/valid) name for

923-505: A secondary coat of much longer, simpler feathers that rose out of the down layer. These unique feathers known as EBFFs (elongated broad filamentous feathers) were first described by Xu et al. 2009, based on specimen STM 31-1 consisting of the torso, head and neck. Xu and his team also found EBFFs in the tail of the holotype IVPP V11559, which were revealed by further preparation. Some of these were damaged during preparation though. The EBFFs differ from other feather types in that they consist of

994-431: A single, unbranched filament. Most other primitive feathered dinosaurs have down-like feathers made up of two or more filaments branching out from a common base or along a central shaft. The EBFFs of Beipiaosaurus are also much longer than other primitive feather types, measuring about 100–150 mm (10–15 cm) long, roughly half the length of the neck. In Sinosauropteryx , the longest feathers are only about 15% of

1065-427: A taxon; however, the names published in suppressed works are made unavailable via the relevant Opinion dealing with the work in question. In botany, similar concepts exist but with different labels. The botanical equivalent of zoology's "available name" is a validly published name . An invalidly published name is a nomen invalidum or nom. inval. ; a rejected name is a nomen rejiciendum or nom. rej. ;

1136-455: A total of c. 520,000 published names (including synonyms) as at end 2019, increasing at some 2,500 published generic names per year. "Official" registers of taxon names at all ranks, including genera, exist for a few groups only such as viruses and prokaryotes, while for others there are compendia with no "official" standing such as Index Fungorum for fungi, Index Nominum Algarum and AlgaeBase for algae, Index Nominum Genericorum and

1207-612: Is discouraged by both the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants , there are some five thousand such names in use in more than one kingdom. For instance, A list of generic homonyms (with their authorities), including both available (validly published) and selected unavailable names, has been compiled by the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG). The type genus forms

1278-410: Is in the strengthening of the thoracic skeleton to withstand the rigors of flight . The furcula works as a strut between a bird's shoulders, and articulates to each of the bird's scapulae . In conjunction with the coracoid and the scapula, it forms a unique structure called the triosseal canal, which houses a strong tendon that connects the supracoracoideus muscles to the humerus . This system

1349-613: Is known from three reported specimens. Numerous impressions of feather structures were preserved that allowed researchers to determine the feathering color which turned out to be brownish. They were relatively small-sized therizinosaurs, measuring 2.2 m (7.2 ft) long and weighing about 27 kg (60 lb) in contrast to the advanced and giant Segnosaurus or Therizinosaurus . The necks of Beipiaosaurus were shorter than in most therizinosaurs, whose are characterized by elongated necks adapted for high-browsing . Also, their feet configuration differs from therizinosaurids, having

1420-432: Is responsible for lifting the wings during the recovery stroke. As the thorax is compressed by the flight muscles during downstroke, the upper ends of the furcula spread apart, expanding by as much as 50% of its resting width, and then contracts. X-ray films of starlings in flight have shown that in addition to strengthening the thorax, the furcula acts like a spring in the pectoral girdle during flight. It expands when

1491-460: Is somewhat arbitrary. Although all species within a genus are supposed to be "similar", there are no objective criteria for grouping species into genera. There is much debate among zoologists about whether enormous, species-rich genera should be maintained, as it is extremely difficult to come up with identification keys or even character sets that distinguish all species. Hence, many taxonomists argue in favor of breaking down large genera. For instance,

SECTION 20

#1732791414736

1562-474: Is the type species , and the generic name is permanently associated with the type specimen of its type species. Should the specimen turn out to be assignable to another genus, the generic name linked to it becomes a junior synonym and the remaining taxa in the former genus need to be reassessed. In zoological usage, taxonomic names, including those of genera, are classified as "available" or "unavailable". Available names are those published in accordance with

1633-737: Is the effect on climate caused by shifts in the tilt of the Earth's axis and by the shape of the Earth's orbit, contributed to the climate fluctuations of this formation. The Yixian Formation is well known for its great diversity of well-preserved specimens and its dinosaurs, such as the tyrannosauroids Dilong and Yutyrannus , the dromaeosaurids Sinornithosaurus , oviraptorosaurs including Caudipteryx , compsognathids including Sinocalliopteryx , avialans including Confuciusornis and some non-theropod dinosaurs, such as Psittacosaurus and Dongbeititan . Other contemporaries of Beipiaosaurus included ancient shrimp, snails and slugs, as well as

1704-518: The Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology , in Beijing , China. It consists of a partial, sub-adult, skeleton that is largely disarticulated. A significant number of fossilized bones were recovered, including: cranial fragments, a mandible , teeth , three cervical vertebrae , four dorsal vertebrae , four dorsal ribs , two sacral vertebrae , twenty-five caudal vertebrae with

1775-621: The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature ; the earliest such name for any taxon (for example, a genus) should then be selected as the " valid " (i.e., current or accepted) name for the taxon in question. Consequently, there will be more available names than valid names at any point in time; which names are currently in use depending on the judgement of taxonomists in either combining taxa described under multiple names, or splitting taxa which may bring available names previously treated as synonyms back into use. "Unavailable" names in zoology comprise names that either were not published according to

1846-824: The International Plant Names Index for plants in general, and ferns through angiosperms, respectively, and Nomenclator Zoologicus and the Index to Organism Names for zoological names. Totals for both "all names" and estimates for "accepted names" as held in the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG) are broken down further in the publication by Rees et al., 2020 cited above. The accepted names estimates are as follows, broken down by kingdom: The cited ranges of uncertainty arise because IRMNG lists "uncertain" names (not researched therein) in addition to known "accepted" names;

1917-419: The nomenclature codes , which allow each species a single unique name that, for animals (including protists ), plants (also including algae and fungi ) and prokaryotes ( bacteria and archaea ), is Latin and binomial in form; this contrasts with common or vernacular names , which are non-standardized, can be non-unique, and typically also vary by country and language of usage. Except for viruses ,

1988-409: The paleoenvironment of the Yixian Formation involved seasonal climate fluctuations, and was warm and humid, punctuated by dry seasons, in which the environment became more arid. The average yearly temperature during the time of Beipiaosaurus was 10 °C (50 °F), with relatively cold winters for the generally warm Mesozoic era. A study by Wu et al. 2013 concluded that orbital forcing , which

2059-404: The platypus belongs to the genus Ornithorhynchus although George Shaw named it Platypus in 1799 (these two names are thus synonyms ) . However, the name Platypus had already been given to a group of ambrosia beetles by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst in 1793. A name that means two different things is a homonym . Since beetles and platypuses are both members of the kingdom Animalia,

2130-654: The "surprising features in these animals". The holotype ( type specimen ) of Beipiaosaurus inexpectus , IVPP V11559 , was recovered in the Jianshangou Beds of the Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, China . The specimen was collected in sediment deposited during the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago. It is housed in the collection of

2201-574: The Therizinosauria by Hartman et al. 2019 which is largely based on the data provided by the revision of Zanno in 2010. Beipiaosaurus occupied a more derived position than Falcarius , as previously indicated by Zanno: Falcarius [REDACTED] Jianchangosaurus [REDACTED] Beipiaosaurus [REDACTED] " Chilantaisaurus " zheziangensis Enigmosaurus [REDACTED] Alxasaurus Therizinosauridae [REDACTED] In 2018, McNamara and colleagues discovered

Beipiaosaurus - Misplaced Pages Continue

2272-472: The arm. Xu et al. 1999 suggested that these downy feathers represent an intermediate stage between Sinosauropteryx and more advanced birds ( Avialae ). The tail was also covered in feathers between four and seven centimeters long, consisting of parallel filaments with a width of 1.5 mm (0.15 cm), without a trace of pennaceous feathers or a tail fan, as indicated by the preserved pygostyle . Unique among known theropods, Beipiaosaurus also possessed

2343-442: The base for higher taxonomic ranks, such as the family name Canidae ("Canids") based on Canis . However, this does not typically ascend more than one or two levels: the order to which dogs and wolves belong is Carnivora ("Carnivores"). The numbers of either accepted, or all published genus names is not known precisely; Rees et al., 2020 estimate that approximately 310,000 accepted names (valid taxa) may exist, out of

2414-432: The definition by Paul Sereno of this group, Beipiaosaurus is even by definition the basal most member. Lindsay E. Zanno noted that Beipiaosaurus shares a sister-taxon relationship with Falcarius , a taxon that includes all the more derived therizinosauroids, however, it appears to be that Falcarius is more primitive than Beipiaosaurus . The cladogram below is the result of the performed phylogenetic analysis of

2485-411: The derived therizinosaurid condition may have evolved from a three-toed therizinosauroid ancestor. The head was large relative to other therizinosaurs, with the lower jaw measuring about same length as the femur . The neck appears to be shorter compared to other therizinosaurs. In 2003 the pygostyle , consisting of the fused five last vertebrae of the tail, was described in greater detail, suggesting that

2556-495: The discovery was announced on the famous journal Nature and the type species Beipiaosaurus inexpectus named and described by Xu Xing , Tang Zhilu and Wang Xiaolin . The generic name Beipiaosaurus translates as "Beipiao lizard" after Beipiao , a city in China near the location of its discovery. Beipiaosaurus is known from a single species, B. inexpectus , the specific name , meaning "unexpected" in Latin , referring to

2627-625: The feathers are considered to be EBFFs, bearing resemblance to those found along the specimens of Beipiaosaurus . These findings suggest that they might have been used for visual display and were common among early therizinosaurs. An evo-devo study published in the year 2003 defined what is a feather. It's stated that the integumentary structures of Beipiaosaurus weren't true feathers, those integumentary structures are filaments that are related to feathers. The affinities of therizinosaurs were originally obscure and often problematic, giving rise to taxonomic debate since they feature similar adaptations to

2698-589: The finer feathers served as an insulatory coat and that the larger feathers were ornamental, perhaps for social interactions such as mating or communication. Li et al. 2014 compared the color and shape of the melanosomes in 181 extant animal specimens, 13 fossil specimens (including Beipiaosaurus ) and previous data about the melanosome diversity using scanning electron microscopes . They found that color in dinosaurs seem to be slightly connected with their physiology. While some species of living reptiles (lizards or crocodiles, which are ectothermic ) have less diversity in

2769-446: The form "author, year" in zoology, and "standard abbreviated author name" in botany. Thus in the examples above, the genus Canis would be cited in full as " Canis Linnaeus, 1758" (zoological usage), while Hibiscus , also first established by Linnaeus but in 1753, is simply " Hibiscus L." (botanical usage). Each genus should have a designated type , although in practice there is a backlog of older names without one. In zoology, this

2840-482: The fossil dinosaur corneocytes were more densely packed with keratin and lacking lipids (fat), suggesting that Beipiaosaurus and co-analyzed taxa did not get as warm as modern birds, mainly because they were ground-dwelling animals not able to fly. In the case of the primitive birds Confuciusornis , they could not fly at all for long periods. In modern birds these structures, with the addition of fats, help to regulate body temperature during active flight. In addition,

2911-733: The fossilised remains of skin flakes from numerous feathered dinosaurs from the Jehol Biota and some bird species using scanning electron microscope on the preserved feather impressions. The analyzed fossil taxa consisted of Confuciusornis , Beipiaosaurus , Microraptor and Sinornithosaurus . For Beipiaosaurus , the specimen STM 31-1 was analyzed. By exposing the skin flakes under an electron microscope they found corneocytes , which are cells rich in keratin . In order to make comparisons with extant feathered dinosaurs, they analyzed several bird taxa such as Anas , Lonchura and Taeniopygia and found similar cell structures, but

Beipiaosaurus - Misplaced Pages Continue

2982-428: The front edge of the ischium a projection, the obturator process, has a wavy profile with a tip that is curved downwards; the "boot" at the lower end of the ischium has twice the width, measured from the front to the rear, of the lower shaft of the ischium. In 2019 Liao and Xu redescribed the holotype skull in detail, noting new unique cranial traits for Beipiaosaurus . These consisted of the large postorbital joint of

3053-413: The frontal and its abrupt transition from the orbital edge, a long and keen anterior joint of the parietal, an elongate bottom branching of the squamosal articulation of the parietal, and the deeply external mandibular fenestra that is located towards the rear. Cau (2024) suggested that the contemporary Jianchangosaurus represents a junior synonym of Beipiaosaurus , since the diagnosis distinguishing

3124-531: The furcula in the opposite direction, so that it has increased in size and become too stiff or massive to act as a spring. In strong flyers like cranes and falcons, the arms of the furcula are large, hollow and quite rigid. In birds , the furcula also may aid in respiration by helping to pump air through the air sacs . Several groups of theropod dinosaurs have also been found with furculae, including dromaeosaurids , oviraptorids , tyrannosaurids , troodontids , coelophysids and allosauroids . Seeing

3195-737: The generic name (or its abbreviated form) still forms the leading portion of the scientific name, for example, Canis lupus lupus for the Eurasian wolf subspecies, or as a botanical example, Hibiscus arnottianus ssp. immaculatus . Also, as visible in the above examples, the Latinised portions of the scientific names of genera and their included species (and infraspecies, where applicable) are, by convention, written in italics . The scientific names of virus species are descriptive, not binomial in form, and may or may not incorporate an indication of their containing genus; for example,

3266-528: The goose has been eaten on St. Martin's Day or Night, the oldest and most sagacious keeps the breast-bone and allowing it to dry until the morning examines it all around, in front, behind and in the middle. Thereby they divine whether the winter will be severe or mild, dry or wet, and are so confident in their prediction that they will wager their goods and chattels on its accuracy.", and of a military officer: "This valiant man, this Christian Captain drew forth out of his doublet that heretical object of superstition,

3337-460: The goose-bone, and showed me that after Candlemas an exceeding severe frost should occur, and could not fail." The Captain also said, "Teutonic knights in Prussia waged all their wars by the goose-bone; and as the goose-bone predicted so did they order their two campaigns, one in summer and one in winter." The custom of two persons pulling on the bone with the one receiving the larger part making

3408-416: The identified corneocytes structures seem to indicate that non-avian dinosaurs had a similar way of shedding skin to extant birds and mammals. Unlike many reptiles alive today ( lizards or snakes ) which shed their skin as a single piece or as several large pieces, Beipiaosaurus and other non-avian dinosaurs shed their skin as dandruff , like Confuciusornis , modern birds or mammals. Studies suggest that

3479-633: The largest component, with 23,236 ± 5,379 accepted genus names, of which 20,845 ± 4,494 are angiosperms (superclass Angiospermae). By comparison, the 2018 annual edition of the Catalogue of Life (estimated >90% complete, for extant species in the main) contains currently 175,363 "accepted" genus names for 1,744,204 living and 59,284 extinct species, also including genus names only (no species) for some groups. The number of species in genera varies considerably among taxonomic groups. For instance, among (non-avian) reptiles , which have about 1180 genera,

3550-430: The lizard genus Anolis has been suggested to be broken down into 8 or so different genera which would bring its ~400 species to smaller, more manageable subsets. Furcula The furcula (Latin for "little fork"; pl. : furculae ) or wishbone is a forked bone found in most birds and some species of non-avian dinosaurs, and is formed by the fusion of the two clavicles . In birds, its primary function

3621-409: The more derived Therizinosauridae , to be coelurosaurian theropods, not sauropodomorph or ornithischian relatives as once believed. In 1996, the peasant Li Yinxian discovered a partial skeleton of a theropod dinosaur near the village of Sihetun . On the following year it was confirmed to have come from the lower beds of the Yixian Formation and represent a single individual. On May 27, 1999,

SECTION 50

#1732791414736

3692-403: The most (>300) have only 1 species, ~360 have between 2 and 4 species, 260 have 5–10 species, ~200 have 11–50 species, and only 27 genera have more than 50 species. However, some insect genera such as the bee genera Lasioglossum and Andrena have over 1000 species each. The largest flowering plant genus, Astragalus , contains over 3,000 species. Which species are assigned to a genus

3763-428: The name could not be used for both. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach published the replacement name Ornithorhynchus in 1800. However, a genus in one kingdom is allowed to bear a scientific name that is in use as a generic name (or the name of a taxon in another rank) in a kingdom that is governed by a different nomenclature code. Names with the same form but applying to different taxa are called "homonyms". Although this

3834-445: The neck area. Beipiaosaurus was a small therizinosaur, measuring 2.2 m (7.2 ft) in length, and before the discovery of Yutyrannus they were the largest dinosaurs known from direct evidence to be feathered. It is estimated to have weighed about 27 kg (60 lb) based on femur length. More advanced therizinosaurids have four functional toes , but the feet of Beipiaosaurus still have reduced inner toes, showing that

3905-437: The neck length. The EBFFs of Beipiaosaurus are also unusually broad, up to 3 mm (0.30 cm) wide in the holotype. The broadest feathers of Sinosauropteryx are only 0.2 mm (0.020 cm) wide, and only slightly wider in larger forms such as Dilong . Additionally, where most primitive feather types are circular in cross section, EBFFs appear to be oval-shaped. None of the preserved EBFFs were curved or bent beyond

3976-485: The occurrence in diplodocid dinosaurs of interclavicles , Tschopp and Mateus (2013) proposed that the furcula is a transformed and divided interclavicle, rather than a fused clavicle. Superstitions surrounding divination by means of a goose 's wishbone go back to at least the Late Medieval Period . Johannes Hartlieb in 1455 recorded the divination of weather by means of a goose's wishbone, "When

4047-429: The original function of the pygostyle was not linked with pennaceous feathers. According to Zanno in 2010, Beipiaosaurus can be distinguished from other therizinosaur taxa based on the following characteristics, which are unique derived traits ( autapomorphies ): a low ridge is present on the front of the thighbone shaft which extends upwards from the inner condyle; the last four dorsal vertebrae are fused; from at least

4118-541: The provisions of the ICZN Code, e.g., incorrect original or subsequent spellings, names published only in a thesis, and generic names published after 1930 with no type species indicated. According to "Glossary" section of the zoological Code, suppressed names (per published "Opinions" of the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature) remain available but cannot be used as the valid name for

4189-470: The same kind as other (analogous) genera. The term "genus" comes from Latin genus , a noun form cognate with gignere ('to bear; to give birth to'). The Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus popularized its use in his 1753 Species Plantarum , but the French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656–1708) is considered "the founder of the modern concept of genera". The scientific name (or

4260-408: The scientific epithet) of a genus is also called the generic name ; in modern style guides and science, it is always capitalised. It plays a fundamental role in binomial nomenclature , the system of naming organisms , where it is combined with the scientific name of a species : see Botanical name and Specific name (zoology) . The rules for the scientific names of organisms are laid down in

4331-406: The seventh vertebra onwards the tail vertebrae are fused into a pygostyle; a prominent triangular flange extends outwards, away from the body, from the underside of the first metacarpal ; the skull is large, about as long as the thighbone; the first phalanx of the first digit has a joint surface with the claw, that is elongated in the direction of the finger tip on the outer side of its lower part; on

SECTION 60

#1732791414736

4402-417: The shape of melanosomes and darker color ranges, some maniraptorans, birds and mammals (which are endothermic ) have an increased diversity of melanosome shapes and more vivid colors. The examined specimen of Beipaosaurus , BMNHC PH000911, preserves feather impressions which are located in the neck area. These are filamentous/sparse in structure and the sampled melanosomes were sphere-shaped and inferred to had

4473-603: The skull of this specimen was badly crushed. Li et al. 2014 mentioned a third specimen labelled under the number BMNHC PH000911 . This specimen hails from the Sihetun locality at the Beipiao County in Liaoning Province and compromises a partial individual preserving the skull (badly crushed), most of the vertebral column, both arms and other postcrania. Traces of feather integument were extensively found around

4544-497: The specific name particular to the wolf. A botanical example would be Hibiscus arnottianus , a particular species of the genus Hibiscus native to Hawaii. The specific name is written in lower-case and may be followed by subspecies names in zoology or a variety of infraspecific names in botany . When the generic name is already known from context, it may be shortened to its initial letter, for example, C. lupus in place of Canis lupus . Where species are further subdivided,

4615-412: The standard format for a species name comprises the generic name, indicating the genus to which the species belongs, followed by the specific epithet, which (within that genus) is unique to the species. For example, the gray wolf 's scientific name is Canis lupus , with Canis ( Latin for 'dog') being the generic name shared by the wolf's close relatives and lupus (Latin for 'wolf') being

4686-466: The taxa was based on ontogenetically variable characters. As such, Jianchangosaurus would represent a less mature individual of Beipiaosaurus . The first feather impressions were found in the holotype specimen, consisting of short, slender filamentous feathers on the left arm. These impressions indicated that the body was predominately covered by downy feather-like fibers, similar to those of Sinosauropteryx , but longer, and oriented perpendicular to

4757-403: The taxon is termed a synonym ; some authors also include unavailable names in lists of synonyms as well as available names, such as misspellings, names previously published without fulfilling all of the requirements of the relevant nomenclatural code, and rejected or suppressed names. A particular genus name may have zero to many synonyms, the latter case generally if the genus has been known for

4828-621: The unrelated sauropodomorphs and ornithischians . The description of Beipiaosaurus helped to assemble the definitive placement of therizinosaurs within the Theropoda , especially as maniraptorans thanks to the numerous theropod features and irrefutable feather impressions in the holotype. Beipiaosaurus was first assigned to the Therizinosauroidea , in a very primitive position by Xu et al. 1999. All subsequent phylogenetic analyses have confirmed this assignment. According to

4899-576: The values quoted are the mean of "accepted" names alone (all "uncertain" names treated as unaccepted) and "accepted + uncertain" names (all "uncertain" names treated as accepted), with the associated range of uncertainty indicating these two extremes. Within Animalia, the largest phylum is Arthropoda , with 151,697 ± 33,160 accepted genus names, of which 114,387 ± 27,654 are insects (class Insecta). Within Plantae, Tracheophyta (vascular plants) make up

4970-429: The virus species " Salmonid herpesvirus 1 ", " Salmonid herpesvirus 2 " and " Salmonid herpesvirus 3 " are all within the genus Salmonivirus ; however, the genus to which the species with the formal names " Everglades virus " and " Ross River virus " are assigned is Alphavirus . As with scientific names at other ranks, in all groups other than viruses, names of genera may be cited with their authorities, typically in

5041-440: The wings are pulled downward and snaps back as they are raised. In this action, the furcula is able to store some of the energy generated by contraction in the breast muscles, expanding the shoulders laterally, and then releasing the energy during upstroke as the furcula snaps back to the normal position. This, in turn, draws the shoulders toward the midline of the body. While the starling has a moderately large and strong furcula for

#735264