Disassociated rhamphotheca of fossil bird Confuciusornis informs early beak reconstruction, stress regime, and developmental patterns

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01252-1
• Publication Date: 2020-09-21T10:03:11Z
• Authors: Case Vincent Miller; Michael Pittman; Thomas G. Kaye; Xiaoli Wang; Jen A. Bright; Xiaoting Zheng
• Keywords: Beak

Abstract Soft tissue preservation in fossil birds provides a rare window into their anatomy, function, and development. Here, we present an exceptionally-preserved specimen of Confuciusornis which, through Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence imaging, is identified as preserving disassociated rhamphotheca. Reconstruction the vivo position rhamphotheca validates association with two previous confuciusornithid specimens while calling that third question. The ease dissociation discussed proposed fourth alongside finite element analysis evidence for preferential soft-food feeding. However, this proposition remains tentative until there better understanding functional role beak attachment living birds. Differences post-rostral extent possibly curvature between confuciusornithids modern hint at developmental differences two. Together, information wealth new regarding nature outside crown Aves.