Avisaurus Facts
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Wing Span | 0.15m |
| Length | 0.3m |
| Weight | 50 g |
| Environment | Air |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Other |
| Location | North America |

| Diet | Carnivore |
| Wing Span | 0.15m |
| Length | 0.3m |
| Weight | 50 g |
| Environment | Air |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Other |
| Location | North America |
Although once classified as a dinosaur, Avisaurus is now known to be an enantiornithine bird - a member of an extinct group of early birds that lived alongside dinosaurs during the Mesozoic Era. This fascinating creature soared through the skies of North America during the Late Cretaceous period, around 72 million years ago.
Avisaurus was a small flying bird, roughly the size of a modern crow, with a wingspan estimated at around 60 centimetres. Unlike modern birds, enantiornithines like Avisaurus retained several primitive features, including teeth in their jaws and claws on their wings. These ancient birds were highly successful during the Cretaceous period, occupying many of the ecological niches that modern birds fill today.
As a carnivore, Avisaurus likely fed on small animals such as insects, lizards, and possibly fish. Its sharp teeth would have been perfect for grasping slippery prey. The creature's strong flight capabilities suggest it was an active hunter, capable of pursuing prey both in the air and by diving to snatch animals from the ground or water surface.
Avisaurus represents an important evolutionary step in the development of modern birds. These enantiornithine birds were among the most diverse flying vertebrates of their time, but sadly went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period along with the non-avian dinosaurs.
Avisaurus had teeth in its beak-like jaws, clawed fingers on its wings, and a long tail with feathers. Its wing bones showed distinctive features that set it apart from modern birds, including a differently shaped shoulder joint.
Avisaurus was likely an agile flyer capable of powered flight, hunting small prey from the air. Evidence suggests these birds may have been social, potentially living in small flocks and nesting in colonies near water sources.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Family | Avisauridae |
| Genus | Avisaurus |
Avisaurus was first described by Brett-Surman and Paul in 1976. The original fossils were discovered at Montana, USA.