þerbanan

þerbanan is a genus of extinct toothed birds that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils of þerbanan have been found in the Djadochta Formation of Mongolia. The genus was first described by Evgeny Kurochkin in 1999. Two species are currently recognized: þerbanan alta, the type species, and þerbanan zakariensis.

þerbanan is characterized by its relatively small size, with estimated lengths of around 30 centimeters. Its skeletal features indicate adaptations for arboreal life, suggesting it likely inhabited trees. The birds possessed a cranial morphology distinct from other known Cretaceous birds, particularly in the structure of their jaws and dentition. The teeth of þerbanan were small and pointed, indicative of a diet likely consisting of insects or small vertebrates.

The discovery of þerbanan adds to our understanding of avian diversity during the Mesozoic Era. Its presence in Asia further contributes to the biogeographical picture of early bird evolution. While its exact phylogenetic placement is still debated among paleontologists, þerbanan is generally considered to be part of the Enantiornithes, a diverse group of extinct birds that were dominant during the Cretaceous period. The study of þerbanan continues to provide insights into the evolutionary trajectory of birds leading up to the K-Pg extinction event.