Laornis

Coordinates: 39°59′N 74°43′W / 39.983°N 74.717°W / 39.983; -74.717
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

39°59′N 74°43′W / 39.983°N 74.717°W / 39.983; -74.717

Laornis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Family: †Laornithidae
Cracraft, 1973
Genus: †Laornis
Marsh, 1870
Species:
†L. edvardsianus
Binomial name
†Laornis edvardsianus
Marsh, 1870
Synonyms

Laopteryx Kurochkin, 1995 (lapsus)

Laornis is a

paleontologist on his landmark study Recherches Anatomiques et Paleontologiques pour servir a l'Histoire des Oiseaux Fossiles de la France, the second part of which was nearing completion at that time.[1][2]

It was found in Late Cretaceous or Early Paleocene[3][4] sediments of the Hornerstown Formation at the Birmingham Marl Pits, Pemberton Township, New Jersey, United States (39°59'N, 74°43'W). The deposits were laid down at about 66–63 Ma (million years ago).

The bone is rather distinct but not very diagnostic. Its general shape suggests that Laornis was a semi-aquatic bird with longish legs and a body at least the size of a large goose. It may have been a wading bird, in which case it stood probably around one meter (3–4 ft) tall in life, depending on how long its legs and neck were exactly, which of course cannot be told from the one known bone. On the other hand, it might have been a larger seabird with proportionally shorter legs.[1]

It has variously been allied with the

evolved to immense proportions in the Neogene but by the time of Laornis probably were mostly the size of a large petrel.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cracraft, Joel (1973). "Systematics and evolution of the Gruiformes (class Aves). 3, Phylogeny of the suborder Grues" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 151: 1–127. (see p. 47 for photographs)
  2. S2CID 130238178
    .
  3. JSTOR 4075921
    .
  4. JSTOR 4083191
    .

External links
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