Gansus zheni was named by Liu et al. (2014) [A medium-sized gansuid bird distinguishable from Gansus yumenensis by the following combination of characters: broader U-shaped furcula with an interclavicular angle of approximately 60 degrees (as opposed to ~ 40 degrees for Gansus yumenensis); cnemial crests of tibiotarsus extending distally less than in Gansus yumenensis; manual digit II (major digit) proportionally shorter than in Gansus yumenensis; pedal digit IV slightly longer than digit III (pedal digit IV is markedly longer than digit III in Gansus yumenensis); ratio of pedal digit III/tarsometatarsus about 1.1 (it is approximately 1.0 in Gansus yumenensis); claws of pedal digits III and IV lacking a prominent pendant flexor tubercle (present in Gansus yumenensis).]. Its type specimen is BMNHC-Ph1342, a skeleton (complete and articulated specimen preserved in ventral view), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Sihedang, Lingyuan, which is in an Aptian lacustrine mudstone/shale in the Jiufotang Formation of China.