Tokyo international mineral fair 1997

Confuciusornis

　It is the first time that I watch the fossil of Confuciusornis directly.
　It's small than I thought and it's cute. There is no painting and repair of the fossil. It is clear specimen.
　The scale which shows 10 cm. Accordingly total size is approximately 30 cm.
　A price is $ 13,000.

　Next image is the magnification one of the picture showed above.

　According to Dinosauria, Fossil remains of this bird were found in China last year, 1994. The exact age of the bird is not known, but it was probably close in time to Archaeopteryx.

  1. The wing skeleton, including the long fingers and big claws, and two legs retained the primitive, almost reptilian features found in Archaeopteryx.
  2. They have no teeth.
  3. They have feathers around their legs, non-flying contour feathers.
　

　Tail is short so long as I watch.

　Left image is the magnification one of the head showed above.
　It has no teeth like modern birds.

　In fact, as for Confuciusornis fossils there were four specimens in this fair. This is another one.

　And it is head of the fossil that wasn't exhibited.

　
　
　Explanation card of the first fossil shows "there was avian fossil which has feather". An American took it out from separate box when I tried to ask him at the shop.
　It has cute black eye and feather.

　The price is 480,000 yen.

　This is the part of the hand of the specimen showed above.
　This specimen has black feathers both on the wings and neck.

　

　In fact, confuciusornis seems to be in abundance in China.

　I heard the specimens showed in the fair came from USA.

　

　

　

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