Abstract:  The recently described maniraptoran theropod Zhongornis haoae, known from a single juvenile specimen, was originally identified as a bird. However, morphological re-evaluation reveals striking resemblances to both Oviraptorosauria and Scansoriopterygidae. The reduced, but still long, boney tail is reinterpreted as having approximately twenty vertebrae and is reminiscent of the tails of Caudipteryx and Epidexipteryx in its proportions and morphology. Other morphological similarities with basal oviraptorosaurs include a short and deep skull, and a reduced minor digit. Zhongornis also differs strikingly from other Mesozoic birds, and resembles scansoriopterygids, in the size of the alular metacarpal, the proportions of the manual digits, and the lack of processes on the ischium. These similarities, together with resemblances between basal oviraptorosaurs and previously described scansoriopterygids, may point to a close relationship between these two clades. Cladistic analysis confirms a close relationship between Zhongornis and Scansoriopterygidae, which share forelimbs and pedal unguals that are elongate compared to those of oviraptorosaurs, but does not support oviraptorosaur affinities for this clade. Additional specimens will be required in order to determine both the taxonomic placement of this species and the affinities of Scansoriopterygidae, highlighting the drawbacks of basing new species on juvenile material.

摘要： 手盗龙类郝氏中鸟(Zhongornis haoae)的标本只有一件，并且为幼年个体，其最初被归入鸟类。然而对其解剖学的重新研究显示，郝氏中鸟与窃蛋龙下目(Oviraptorosauria)和擅攀鸟龙科(Scansoriopterygidae)具有很多相似的形态特征。中鸟的尾部虽然有所退化，但仍然很长，本文认为其约有20枚尾椎，其尾部的形态和比例都与尾羽龙(Caudipteryx)和耀龙(Epidexipteryx)相似。中鸟与基干窃蛋龙类的相似之处还包括：头骨短而高，小手指退化。在小翼掌骨的大小、手指的比例、坐骨不发育背侧和腹侧突起方面，中鸟与擅攀鸟龙类相似，而明显区别于中生代的鸟类。基于上述相似的形态特征以及基干窃蛋龙类和擅攀鸟龙类共有的其他特征，提出了窃蛋龙类和擅攀鸟龙类之间具有较近亲缘关系的假说。分支系统学的研究表明，相比于窃蛋龙类，中鸟与擅攀鸟龙科之间的亲缘关系更近，中鸟和擅攀鸟龙类都具有伸长的前肢和脚爪。有关中鸟的分类位置及其与擅攀鸟龙科之间确切关系的研究，还需要新标本的发现；本文对中鸟分类位置的讨论，也说明了基于幼年个体进行新种命名时所存在的问题。