Holotype of O. naga 3D scan (top) and in ventral view (bottom) with arrows pointing to consumed flesh (top) and fly inclusions (bottom)
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Genus:
†Oculudentavis Xing et al., 2020
Type species
†Oculudentavis khaungraae
Xing et al., 2020
Other species
Oculudentavis naga Bolet et al., 2021
Oculudentavis is an extinct genus of lizard of uncertain taxonomic placement,[1] originally identified as an avialan dinosaur (bird, in the broad sense).[2] It contains two known species, O. khaungraae and O. naga. Each species is known from one partial fossil specimen in Burmese amber, which differ in several proportions.[3] Their skulls measure 1.4–1.7 centimetres (0.55–0.67 in) in length, indicating that Oculudentavis would have been comparable in size with the modern bee hummingbird if it were an avialan. Both specimens were retrieved from 99-million-year-old deposits of the Hukawng Basin in Kachin State, northern Myanmar. The type specimen of O. khaungraae is embroiled in controversy regarding its identity and the ethical issues surrounding the acquisition and study of Burmese amber. The original description advocating for an avialan identity was published in Nature, but has since then been retracted from the journal.[4]
^Bolet et al., 2021
^Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Press release about Oculudentavis - Scientific American Press release about Oculudentavis - Phys.org Press release about Oculudentavis - National Geographic...
Cretaceogekko (suggested to be the oldest modern gecko), Barlochersaurus, Oculudentavis (formerly erroneously considered to be a bird), and the snake Xiaophis...
part of a weakly supported clade also containing Huehuecuetzpalli and Oculudentavis. Phylogeny after Talanda et al. (2022): S. E. Evans. 1998. Crown group...
Global Information
