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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Gender identification of the Mesozoic bird Confuciusornis sanctus
Nature Communications, Volume 4, Article 1381, Year 2013
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Description
Hundreds of specimens of the beaked bird Confuciusornis sanctus have been recovered from Early Cretaceous lake deposits of northeastern China. These birds show remarkable variation in size and plumage, with some displaying two long, central ornamental rectrices (tail feathers) and others lacking them altogether. Although, traditionally specimens with ornamental rectrices were interpreted as males and those without them as females, this supposed sexual dimorphism has remained unconfirmed. Here we report on the discovery of medullary bone, a tissue unique to reproductively active female birds, in a specimen of C. sanctus (DNHM-D1874) lacking these feathers. Our discovery constitutes the first case of gender identification in a Mesozoic bird, and it provides undisputed evidence that individuals of C. sanctus without ornamental rectrices are females. By permitting gender identification in C. sanctus, our results provide insight into the onset of sexual maturity and attainment of adult body size of this and other early birds. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Chinsamy, Anusuya
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Chiappe, Luis María
United States, Los Angeles
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Marugán-Lobón, Jesús
Spain, Madrid
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Chunling, Gao
China, Dalian
Dalian Natural History Museum
Fengjiao, Zhang
China, Dalian
Dalian Natural History Museum
Statistics
Citations: 82
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1038/ncomms2377
e-ISSN:
20411723
Research Areas
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Female