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ConfuciusornisConfuciusornis is a genus of crow-sized prehistoric bird from the Early Cretaceous of China, approximately 120 million years ago. Like modern birds, Confuciusornis had a beak, but close relatives of modern birds such as Hesperornis and Ichthyornis were toothed, indicating that the beak evolved convergently in Confuciusornis and living birds. Confuciusornis is more advanced than Archaeopteryx in possessing a short tail with a pygostyle (a bone formed from a series of short, fused tail vertebrae), but more primitive than modern birds in retaining large claws on the forelimbs. The wing feathers are long, suggesting wings like those of a pigeon. Many individuals show long, streamer-like tail feathers that may have been used to attract mates, but the rest of the tail feathers were small and probably of little use in flight. The proportions of the toes suggest that they were used for both walking and climbing, while the large claws of the thumb and third finger were probably used for climbing. Recognized species are C. sanctus (the type species), C. dui, C. chuonzhous and C. suniae. A close relative, Changchengornis hengdaoziensis lived in the same time and region. Changchengornis also possessed the long tail feathers, as well as a noticeable downy coat of feathers.
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