Fig. 10.

Strict consensus cladogram of the two most parsimonious trees resulting from analysis of the characters and taxa in Appendices 2 and 3[length: 422, CI: 0.63, RI 0.82, RC 0:51 (PIC only)]. Bootstrap support for those nodes recovered in greater than 50% of the 1000 replicates performed and Bremer (1988) support values are reported to the right of the node to which they apply (Format: Bootstrap/Bremer). Mesozoic avialans with tail feathering known are pictured, Protopteryx is shown for Enantiornithes as it is basally placed within that group. No Enantiornithes are known to possess more than two elongate rectrices, although some possess none at all (Zhang & Zhou, 2004). Pygostyle morphology is illustrated for Sapeornis, Confuciusornis, Iberomesornis and Yixianornis and shown in insets. One unambiguous synapomorphy supports the clade Yixianornis + Songlingornis (Node A). Monophyly of new clade of Chinese ornithurines (Node B) is supported by four unambiguously optimized synapomorphies (numbers refer to characters and states listed in Appendix 2): 53:0, cervical vertebrae not completely heterocoelous; 94:1, presence of a procoracoid process; 99:1, coracoid without groove at medial opening of n. supracoracoideus foramen; 79:2, medial posterior process of sternum joined to sternal midline to enclose sternal fenestra; 85:1, base of furcula with a truncate or squared base. Seven unambiguous synapomorphies support placement of the clade as more closely related to Aves than Patagopteryx: 55:2, ten or fewer thoracic vertebrae; 95:1, intermuscular line on ventral surface of the coracoid; 107:1, humeral head domed or globose; 143:1, metacarpal III narrow compared with diameter of metacarpal II; 152:1, phalanx II.1 strongly dorsoventrally compressed; 160:1, antitrochanter posterodorsally located with respect to acetabulum; 193:1, metatarsal III displaced posterior to II and IV proximally. Apsaravis is placed more closely to Aves than this new lineage by six unambiguous synapomorphies: 62:4, ten sacral vertebrae; 67:1, non contacting pre- and postzygopophyses in tail; 146:1, metacarpal I articulation developed as a shelf; 159:2, ischium and pubis subparallel and appressed; 169:1, pubis compressed mediolaterally; 188:2, posterior portion of distal articular surface of tibiotarsus for tibial cartilage with well-developed wings.