Gretcheniao, a new Chinese enantiornithine

[Halichoeres]

Meet Gretcheniao sinensis, named after its country of origin and some rich donor to a museum. The authors estimate from wing proportions that it was probably capable of continuous rather than bounding flight, but not for very long--similar to galliform birds and loons. Here's the holotype:



Description (open access): https://peerj.com/articles/7846/

[ceratopsian]

I hadn't picked this one up.  Thanks, always interesting to read of these new birds.  Isn't the name Gretcheniao though? ("Niao" means "bird" in Mandarin.)

[brontosauruschuck]

That would make the museum donor named 'Gretche?' Is that a Chinese name?

[PumperKrickel]

deleted

[ceratopsian]

I guess they decided that two "n"s would be odd. But if I was the honoured Gretchen, I would be asking why my name had been lopped!

[Smilodon P.]

That's funny! In Brazil, Gretchen is the name of a former female sexy dancer, later old age porn star and, now, internet meme.
Some gays fans call her: "our dinosaur".

[Halichoeres]

I hadn't picked this one up.  Thanks, always interesting to read of these new birds.  Isn't the name Gretcheniao though? ("Niao" means "bird" in Mandarin.)

Oh, you're right of course. I read the etymology and then I must have calqued it when I came to post it here. I'll amend it.

That would make the museum donor named 'Gretche?' Is that a Chinese name?

I think a dropped letter in a portmanteau is pretty reasonable myself.