Bird
Jeholornis prima
Jeholornis primaAlso known as Jehol Bird
Jeholornis prima was a primitive, long-tailed avialan that fluttered through the temperate forests of Early Cretaceous China. Preserved stomach contents reveal that it fed heavily on seeds and fruits, making it one of the earliest known specialized herbivores among early birds. Its long, skeletal tail ended in a fan of feathers that worked alongside broad wings to aid in maneuvering through dense woodland canopies.
PrehistoricFossil
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyConifer seeds, Ginkgo seeds, Cycad cones
Predators
- Sinocalliopteryx gigas
- Microraptor gui
- Dilong paradoxus
ThreatsVolcanic eruptions, habitat shifts, and terrestrial predators
HabitatsTemperate lacustrine forests and volcanic woodlands
Life spanUnknown (estimated 5–15 years)
Classification
- FamilyJeholornithidae
- SpeciesJeholornis prima
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from Early Cretaceous fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Museum Etiquette: View delicate skeletal and feather slab fossils under angled light.
- Fossil Caution: Never attempt to excavate or collect without authorized permits.
Neighbor (c) Art by Velizar Simeonovski. Published by Quanguo Li, Julia A. Clarke, Ke-Qin Gao, Jennifer A. Peteya, Matthew D. Shawkey, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Competitor David W. E. Hone, Helmut Tischlinger, Xing Xu, Fucheng Zhang / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Predator Laikayiu / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Pedro José Salas Fontelles, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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