What is Enantiornithes?
Q: What is Enantiornithes?
A: Enantiornithes is a group of extinct avialans or "birds" that were most abundant and diverse during the Mesozoic era.
Q: What did most Enantiornitheans look like?
A: Most Enantiornitheans had teeth and clawed fingers on each wing but otherwise looked much like modern birds.
Q: How many species of Enantiornitheans have been named?
A: Over 80 species of enantiornitheans have been named, but not all are valid species as some names represent only single bones.
Q: When did Enantiornitheans become extinct?
A: Enantiornitheans became extinct at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary along with all other non-avian dinosaurs and hesperornithids.
Q: Did Enantiornitheans leave any living descendants?
A: No, Enantiornitheans are thought to have left no living descendants.
Q: What does the name Enantiornithes mean?
A: The name Enantiornithes means "opposite birds" in Ancient Greek.
Q: What is the most fundamental and characteristic difference between Enantiornithes and all other birds?
A: The most fundamental and characteristic difference between Enantiornithes and all other birds is the nature of the articulation between the scapula and the coracoid, where the 'normal' condition is completely reversed. This refers to an anatomical feature where the articulation of the shoulder bones has a concave-convex socket joint that is reverse of the joint in modern birds.
