Table 1.
Reported abdominal contents of Jehol taxa.
Figure 1.
Holotype of Sinocalliopteryx gigas (JMP-V-05-8-01).
Figure 2.
Sinocalliopteryx gigas (CAGS-IG-T1), partial skeleton. A, B; skull; C, dorsal vertebrae and ribs.
Arrow points to partly covered Confuciusornis humerus; D, associated feet; E, associated pedal phalanges and unguals; F, articulated tail with filamentous integument. Abbreviations: C, centrum; Ch, chevron; Dr, dorsal rib; In, integument; Ju; jugal; La, lacrimal; Mt, metatarsal; Mx, maxilla; Na, nasal; Pal, palatine; Pfr, prefrontal; Ph, phalanx; Pm, premaxilla; Po, postorbital; Tc, tooth crown; Un, ungual; V, vomer. Scale bars in C–F equal 10 cm in 1 cm increments.
Figure 3.
Abdominal contents of Sinocalliopteryx gigas (CAGS-IG-T1).
A, B; block containing Confuciusornis (blue) and unidentified ornithischian (red) remains. C, Close up of Confuciusornis sternal and pectoral elements (small box in B); D, E; associated skeleton of Confuciusornis (large box in B); F, proximal Confuciusornis humerus (arrow in Figure 2). Abbreviations: C, carpal; Dr, dorsal rib; Fu, furcula; Gs, gastralia; H, humerus; Il, ilium; Is, ischium; Mu, manual ungula; Ms, miscellaneous ornithischian bone; Ph, phalanx; Pu, pubis; Ra, radius; Sc, scapulocoracoid; St, sternum. Scale bars in A, B equal 10 cm in 1 cm increments; C, F in 1 mm increments.
Table 2.
Select measurements (mm) for Sinocalliopteryx gigas.
Figure 4.
Possible ornithischian scapula (central red element in Figure 3B) within the abdomen of Sinocalliopteryx gigas (CAGS-IG-T1).
Note disorganized bone texture as a result of corrosion by gastric juices.
Figure 5.
Abdominal contents of Sinocalliopteryx gigas (JMP-V-05-8-01).
Blue, undigested feather-like structures; Red, dromaeosaurid hindlimb; Yellow, gastroliths. Greek numerals (i–iii) denote enlargements in Figure 5. Abbreviations: Dr, dorsal rib; F, femur; H, humerus; Pu, pubis.
Figure 6.
Undigested filamentous integument within the abdominal cavity of Sinocalliopteryx gigas (JMP-V-05-8-01).
A, B; Enlargement of i in Figure 4. Filamentous integument showing central vein (arrow in A; grey lines in B). Black lines are margins between adjacent filaments. Note the stomach contents overlie the right dorsal rib (DrR) but are overlain by the left dorsal rib (DrL). C, D; Enlargement of ii in Figure 4. Tuft of filaments showing single point of origin (arrow). E; Enlargement of iii in Figure 4 showing scattered filamentous structures. Boxed area and interpretive illustration (F) shows a discrete association of parallel filaments similar to the barbs of an avian feather. Scale = 5 mm.
Figure 7.
Close up of Sinornithosaurus right hindlimb within the abdominal cavity of Sinocalliopteryx (JMP-V-05-8-01).
Photograph and interpretive illustration. Gastralia (Gs) and dorsal rib (Dr) belong to Sinocalliopteryx. Note the similar lengths of metatarsals III and IV. Abbreviations: Fi, fibula; Mt, metatarsal; T, tibia.
Figure 8.
Sinocalliopteryx as a stealth hunter feeding on the dromaeosaur Sinornithosaurus (left) and the primitive bird Confuciusornis (right).
Illustration by Cheung Chungtat.