Genus: Sapeornis ZHOU & ZHANG, 2002
Etymology: SAPE is the abbreviation for the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution. The fifth SAPE conference was held in China in June 2000, shortly before the holotype was collected.
= Didactylornis YUAN, 2008
Etymology: Greek, di, "two," Greek, dactyl, "finger," and Greek, ornis, "bird"; two fingered bird.
= Sheshiornis HU, LI, HOU & XU, 2010
Etymology: Shenshi, the Chinese abbreviation for Shenyang Normal University, and Greek, ornis, "bird."

Species: chaoyangensis ZHOU & ZHANG, 2002
Etymology: In reference to the Chaoyang locality, Liaoning Province, China, where the specimen was found.

Holotype: IVPP V12698

Locality: Shangheshou, Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Jiufotang Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Aptian Stage, Middle Gallic Subepoch, Upper Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material: Fragmentary skull and skeleton.

Modified from ZHOU & ZHANG, 2002, IVPP V12698
Note: A very large bird from the Liaoning Province.

Referred material:

ZHOU & ZHANG, 2003

IVPP V13275: A nearly complete articulated skeleton, lacking only the sternum and some toes of the left foot, and gastroliths.

 

Locality: Dapingfang area, Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Jiufotang Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Early Cretaceous.

Material:

IVPP V13276: A nearly complete articulated skeleton, lacking the sternum, left pectoral girdle, left forelimb, and distal portion of the left hind limb.

CHIAPPE & MENG, 2016

HGM-41H110405: Skull and skeleton.

PU, CHANG, LÜ, WU, XU, ZHANG & JIA, 2013

MOTIC SMZ-168: Nearly complete skull and skeleton of a juvenile.

Note: With feather impressons and scales on the feet.

 

AZUMA, 2005

Locality: Western Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Yixian Formation, Jehol Group.

Biostratigraphy: Psittacosaurus Fauna, Confuciusornis Avifauna.

Age: Valanginian Stage, Upper Neocomian Subepoch, Early Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material:

JI-39: Skulls and skeletons.

 

CHIAPPE & MENG, 2016

Locality: Gonggao, Chaoyang County, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Jiufotang Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Early Cretaceous.

Material:

DNMH-D2523: Skull and nearly complete skeleton.

 

Locality: Linglongta, Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Yixian or Jiufotang Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Early Cretaceous.

Material:

BMNHC-PH1067: Skull and skeleton.

Note: With feather impressons.

 

GAO, CHIAPPE, ZHANG, POMEROY, SHEN, CHINSAMY & WALSH, 2012

Locality: Huludao City, Jianchang County, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Yixian Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Barremian-Aptian Stage, Lower Gallic Subepoch, Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material:

DNHN-D3078: Skull and skeleton.
Note with feather impressions on the wings.

 

= Didactylornis jii YUAN, 2008
Etymology: Chines spelling ji in honor of Professor Qiang Ji for his studies of the Mesozoic Jehol Biota and the origin of birds in China.

Holotype: CDPC-02-08-001 (CDL-08-02-01?)

Locality: Baitaigou, Yixian County, Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Jiufotang Formation, Jehol Biota.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Aptian Stage, Middle Gallic Subepoch, Upper Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material: Nearly complete skull and skeleton.

= Sapeornis angustis PROVINI, ZHOU, & ZHANG, 2009
Etymology: Latin, angustis, "narrow": Indeed, in the sudied specimen, the deltopectoral crest of the humerus shows an exceptionally narrow dorsal maring of the fenestra. Furthermore, "angustis" also means "difficult", "Hard", probably as the last moment the bird went through, considering the particularly dramatic postion of the specimen, with the left hand overlapping its jaws.

Holotype: IVPP V13396

Locality: Dapingfang, Chaoyang, Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Jiufotang Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Aptian Stage, Middle Gallic Subepoch, Upper Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material: Skull and nearly complete skeleton.

 

= Sheshiornis primita HU, LI, HOU & XU, 2010
Etymology: The specific name is derived from the primitive nature of the animal.

Holotype: LPM B00019

Locality: Dapingfang, Chaoyang, Western Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Yuanjiawa bed, Horizon IV, Jiufotang Formation, Upper Jehol Group.

Biostratigraphy: Pistacosaurus fauna, Cathayornis-Chaoyanga Avifauna.

Age: Barremian Stage, Lower Gallic Subepoch, Lower Early Cretaceous Epoch, Early Cretaceous.

Material: Skull and skeleton lacking the pectoral girdle, forelimb, majority of ribs and a few caudal vertebrae.