Odontognathae

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Odontognathae is an extinct superorder of birds found widely in Kansas. The superorder was originally proposed by Alexander Wetmore, who attempted to link fossil birds with the presence of teeth, specifically of the orders Hesperornithiformes and Ichthyornithiformes. As such they would be regarded as the missing step between Archaeopteryx and modern birds. They also shared the feature of intramandibular articulation, something that is actually absent in Archaeopteryx, but actually making closer to mosasaurs and living varanid lizards. Other such features were found, as even the brains of these two orders were found to be very reptile-like. However there has since been a major revision which removed Ichthyornithiformes from this superorder. Bock, Walter (2003). "[Odontognathae]". McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology Online. Retrieved on July 17, 2006.Feduccia, Alan (August 11, 1999). The Origin and Evolution of Birds: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300078617. p. 155.Edinger, Tilly (1951). The Brains of the Odontognathae. Society for the Study of Evolution. p. 6

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