List of fossil birds

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For a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized, see Late Quaternary prehistoric birds. For birds that have gone extinct since the year 1500, see List of extinct birds.
A replica of the Berlin specimen of Archaeopteryx, most famous of prehistoric "birds".
Modern research considers it unlikely to be a bird ancestor, though it was certainly a close relative of these.

Birds are generally believed to have evolved from certain feathered theropod dinosaurs, and there is no real dividing line between birds and dinosaurs, except of course that some of the former survived the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event while the latter did not. For the purposes of this article, a 'bird' is considered to be any member of the clade Aves sensu lato.[1] Some dinosaur groups which may or may not be true birds are listed below under 'Proto-birds'.

This page contains a listing of prehistoric bird taxa only known from completely fossilized specimens. These extinctions took place before the Late Quaternary and thus took place in the absence of significant human interference. While the earliest hominids had been eating birds and especially their eggs, human population and technology was simply insufficient to seriously affect healthy bird populations until the Upper Paleolithic Revolution. Rather, reasons for the extinctions listed here are stochastic abiotic events such as bolide impacts, climate change due to orbital shifts, mass volcanic eruptions etc. Alternatively, species may have gone extinct due to evolutionary displacement by successor or competitor taxa - it is notable that an extremely large number of seabirds have gone extinct during the mid-Tertiary; this seems at least partly due to competition by the contemporary radiation of marine mammals.

The relationships of these taxa are often hard to determine, as many are known only from very fragmentary remains and due to the complete fossilization precluding analysis of information from DNA, RNA or protein sequencing. The taxa listed in this article should be classified with the Wikipedia conservation status category "Fossil".

Before the late 19th century, when minerals were still considered one of the kingdoms of binomial nomenclature, fossils were often treated according to a parallel taxonomy. Rather than assigning them to animal or plant genera, they were treated as mineral genera and given binomial names typically using Osteornis ("bone-bird") or Ornitholithus ("bird fossil") as "genus". The latter name, however, is still in use for an oogenus of fossil bird eggs. Also, other animals (in particular pterosaurs) were placed in these "genera". In sources pre-dating the Linnean system, the above terms are also seen in the more extensive descriptions used to name taxa back then.


Contents

[edit] Taxonomic list of fossil prehistoric birds

Higher-level taxa are presented in likely or suspected phylogenetic order. Genus-level taxa and lower are sorted chronologically, in ascending order (i.e., older taxa first).

The higher-level groups of non-Neornithes are arranged based on the phylogeny proposed by Luis Chiappe,[2] updated and expanded to incorporate recent research.[3] The categories are inclusive in ascending order.

Please be aware that taxonomic assignments, especially in the pygostylian to early neornithine genera, are still very provisional and subject to quite frequent change.

[edit] "Proto-birds" (extinct)

See also Archaeopterygiformes and Deinonychosauria, and Origin of birds.

This category contains very early fossils that some consider the earliest evidence of birds, and others which are agreed to be maniraptoran theropods of controversial placement in regard to birds. Most scientists consider them closely related to birds, and some find them avian enough to include in the birds outright. In any case, these forms demonstrate that feathered wings and other "avian" features were not limited to true birds, but first evolved in more basal lineages of theropods.

This assemblage is by no means monophyletic: the Late Cretaceous Rahonavis has by now been quite firmly established to represent a vicariant endemic Malagasy line of unenlagiine Dromaeosauridae. It was about as advanced as Archaeopteryx – though only half its age. The Scansoriopterygidae, on the other hand, may come as close to an actual "proto-bird" as anything yet known to science.

Reconstruction of the juvenile named Scansoriopteryx heilmanni.
The Scansoriopterygidae may well be the closest known relatives of all true birds.

[edit] Basal Avialae (extinct)

The most primitive "birds", usually still possessing a long bony tail with generally unfused vertebrae. Not all of these may be on the line of bird ancestors; whether they are not closer to other theropods groups than to the Avialae remains to be thoroughly tested (see Xiaotingia).

[edit] Basal Pygostylia (extinct)

The earliest birds with a modern pygostyle: a reduction and fusion of the tail vertebrae; possibly a paraphyletic group. Two types of pygostyle are known, a rod-shaped one found in Confuciusornithidae, Enantiornithes and some non-avian theropods such as Nomingia, and a plowshare-shaped one, only known in the lineage leading to modern birds. It is not certain that the pygostyles found in birds are indeed synapomorphies.[4]

  • Placement unresolved

[edit] Enantiornithes (extinct)

"Opposite Birds" due to the arrangement of their scapula/coracoid bones; an extinct Mesozoic sub-class. Together with the Ornithurae (which includes modern birds), they form the Ornithothoraces: birds adapted to flight in the modern way (though the expression of individual traits differs). For example, their shoulder blades are modified to permit raising their wings far above their backs; although as noted above, the shape of the individual shoulder bones differs markedly among ornithothoracine groups, and considering also the different pygostyles of Enantiornithes and Ornithurae, it may well be that the Ornithothoraces are not monophyletic.

Reconstruction of Iberomesornis romerali, a tiny primitive enantiornithine.
It was no bigger than a modern-day finch.

[edit] Enantiornithiformes

[edit] Basal Ornithurae[5] (extinct)

Also called "basal Ornithuromorpha".[6] Essentially modern birds, except many still possess a few primitive features such as teeth or wing claws. These have the plowshare-shaped pygostyle and proper tail fan as seen in most living birds. The taxonomy of this group is confusing; the name "Ornithurae" was first proposed by Ernst Haeckel in 1866 and has been revised in meaning several times since. On the other hand, the Ornithuromorpha may be a junior synonym of Ornithothoraces (or even Pygostylia).[1]

  • Unresolved and basal forms
    • Archaeorhynchus (Early Cretaceous) – basal?
    • Gansus (Early Cretaceous) – basal
    • Jianchangornis (Late Cretaceous of China) – yanornithiform?
    • Hollanda (Late Cretaceous of Mongolia)
    • Limenavis (Late Cretaceous) – neornithine (paleognath)?
    • "cf. Parahesperornis" (Late Cretaceous of Mongolia) – hesperornithiform?
    • "Samrukia" (Late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan) – basal?
    • Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. FRDC-05-CM-021 (Xiagou Early Cretaceous of Changma, China)
    • Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. RBCM.EH2005.003.0001 (Northumberland Late Cretaceous of Hornby Island, Canada)
    • Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. TMP 98.68.145 (Dinosur Park Late Cretaceous of Iddesleigh, Canada) – hesperornithiform?
    • Carinatae gen. et sp. indet. NHMM/RD 271 (Maastricht Late Cretaceous, CBR-Romontbos Quarry, Belgium) – ichthyornithine?
  • Ambiortidae – Apsaraviformes (which would then become Ambiortiformes)?

[edit] Apsaraviformes

Palintropiformes is a junior synonym, Ambiortiformes may be a senior synonym.

[edit] Yanornithiformes

[edit] Hesperornithes (extinct)

Hesperornis

Large, toothed, loon-like diving birds.

[edit] Ichthyornithes (extinct)

Ichthyornis

Toothed birds similar to modern gulls.

[edit] Neornithes

The subclass that contains all modern birds.

Unresolved and basal forms
These modern birds are known from remains that cannot be placed in relation to any one modern group and are neither autapomorphic enough to assign them to own orders. Especially the Late Cretaceous/early Paleogene taxa are probably basal to several modern orders, while later Paleogene taxa often represent extinct lineages outside the modern families.

  • Ceramornis (Late Cretaceous) - charadriiform?
  • "Cimolopteryx" (Late Cretaceous) - charadriiform?
  • "Presbyornithidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Barun Goyot Late Cretaceous of Udan Sayr, Mongolia) - anseriform (presbyornithid)?
  • Teviornis (Late Cretaceous) - presbyornithid?
  • Torotix (Late Cretaceous) - pelecaniform, charadriiform, procellariiform or phoenicopteriform
  • Neornithes incerta sedis "Kurochkin 1995" (Nemegt Late Cretaceous of S Mongolia) - phalacrocoracid?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis AMNH FR 25272 (Lance Creek Late Cretaceous of Converse County, USA) - phalacrocoracid?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis PVPH 237 (Portezuelo Late Cretaceous of Sierra de Portezuelo, Argentina) - galliform?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis UCMP 117598 (Hell Creek Late Cretaceous of Bug Creek West, USA)
  • Neornithes incerta sedis UCMP 117599 (Hell Creek Late Cretaceous of Bug Creek West, USA) - anseriform?
  • Lonchodytes (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) - gaviiform/pelecaniform? procellariiform?
  • "Lonchodytes" pterygius (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) - charadriiform?
  • Novacaesareala (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) - related to Torotix?
  • "Palaeotringa" vetus (Lance Late Cretaceous of Wyoming - Hornerstown Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene of New Jersey, USA) - gruiform? anseriform (presbyornithid)?
  • Volgavis (Early Palaeocene of Volgograd, Russia) - charadriiform? phalacrocoraciform?
  • Eopuffinus (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan) - procellariiform (procellariid)?
  • Tshulia (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan)
  • Eupterornis (Paleocene of Cernay, France) - charadriiform (larid?)? gaviiform?
  • Gradiornis (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) - cariamid?
  • "Messelornis" russelli (Paleocene of Cernay, France) - messelornithid?
  • Walbeckornis (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) - charadriiform? messelornithid?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis (Late Paleocene/Early Eocene of Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco) - charadriiform, ciconiiform, gruiform?
  • Argillipes (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - galliform?
  • Coturnipes (Early Eocene of England, and Virginia, USA?) - galliform, falconiform?
  • Fluviatitavis (Early Eocene of Silveirinha, Portugal) - charadriiform?
  • Mopsitta (Early Eocene) - threskiornithid (may belong in Rhynchaeites), psittacid?
  • Neanis (Early Eocene) - coraciiform (primobucconid), piciform?
  • Onychopteryx (Early Eocene of Argentina) - falconid? A nomen dubium
  • Paleophasianus (Willwood Early Eocene of Bighorn County, USA) - galliform (tetraonine or cracid) or gruiform (aramid)?
  • Paracathartes (Early Eocene of WC USA) - lithornithiform?
  • Parvigyps (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - falconiform?
  • Pediorallus (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - lithornithiform or galliform?
  • Percolinus (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - galliform?
  • "Precursor" (Early Eocene) - several species? psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid) + charadriiform (glareolid)?
  • Procuculus (Early Eocene of Bognor Regis, England) - cuculiform (parvicuculid), coraciiform (primobucconid), close to Primapus?
  • Pulchrapollia (Early Eocene) - psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid)?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis USNM 496384 (Nanjemoy Early Eocene of Virginia, USA) - parvicuculid? aegithalornithid?
  • "Green River Palaeognath" USNM 336103 (Green River Early/middle Eocene of C USA)
  • Palaeopsittacus (Early - middle Eocene of NW Europe) - caprimulgiform (podargid?) or quercypsittid?
  • Amitabha (Bridger middle Eocene of Forbidden City, USA) - galliform (phasianid) or gruiform (rallid?)?
  • Eocathartes (middle Eocene of Germany) - cathartid? Synonym of Strigogyps?
  • Eociconia (middle Eocene of China) - ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
  • Geiseloceros (middle Eocene of Germany) - coraciiform? Synonym of Strigogyps?
  • Hassiavis (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) - archaeotrogonid, piciform?
  • Protocypselomorphus (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) - caprimulgiform, apodiform or ancestral to both
  • Pumiliornis (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • Eobalearica (Ferghana Late? Eocene of Ferghana, Uzbekistan) - gruiform (gruid)?
  • Ludiortyx (Late Eocene) - rallid, quercymegapodid? Includes "Tringa" hoffmanni, "Palaeortyx" blanchardi, "P." hoffmanni
  • Minggangia (Late Eocene of China) - rallid, threskiornithid?
  • Petropluvialis (Late Eocene of England) - may be same as Palaeopapia; anseriform?
  • †"Phasianus" alfhildae (Washakie B Late Eocene of Haystack Butte, USA) - gruiform, ciconiiform, phoenicopteriform?
  • Talantatos (Late Eocene of Paris Bain, France) - gruiform (cariamid, idiornithid?)? Might include Elaphrocnemus and Filholornis
  • Telecrex (Irdin Manha Late Eocene of Chimney Butte, Mongolia) - meleagrid or gruiform (rallid?)
  • Neornithes incerta sedis AMNH FR 2941 (Irdin Manha Late Eocene of Chimney Butte, China) - falconiform (accipitrid)? gruiform (Eogrus)?
  • Zheroia (Late Eocene of Kazakhstan) - gruiform? pelagornithid?
  • "Falco" falconellus (or falconella; Eocene of Wyoming, USA) - falconiform (falconid)?
  • Filholornis (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of France) - musophagid, cracid, carimid, idiornithid? Possibly belongs in Talantatos
  • Geranopsis (Hordwell Late Eocene - Early Oligocene of England) - gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
  • Elaphrocnemus (Quercy Phosphorites Late Eocene ?-middle Oligocene of Quercy, France) - idiornithid? Possibly belongs in Talantatos
  • Agnopterus (Late Eocene - Late Oligocene of Europe) - phoenicopteriform or anseriform, includes "Cygnopterus" lambrechti
  • Plesiocathartes (Late Eocene -? Early Miocene of SW Europe) - cathartid, leptosomid?
  • Botauroides (Eocene of Wyoming, USA)- coliiform?
  • Aminornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) – gruiform (aramid)?
  • Ciconiopsis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina) – ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
  • Climacarthrus (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – falconiform (accipitrid)? A nomen dubium
  • Cruschedula (Deseado Early Oligocene of Golfo San Jorge, Argentina) Aves incertae sedis; A nomen dubium
  • Dolicopterus (Early Oligocene of Ronzon, France) – charadriiform (charadriid)? Not Dolichopterus as sometimes claimed
  • Loncornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) – gruiform (aramid)?
  • Loxornis - anatid? (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)
  • Manu (Early Oligocene) – pelagornithid? procellariiform (diomedeid)?
  • Palaeocrex (Early Oligocene of Trigonias Quarry, USA) – gruiform (rallid)?
  • Palaeopapia (Hampstead Early Oligocene of Isle of Wight, England) – anseriform?
  • Paracygnopterus (Early Oligocene of Belgium and England) – anseriform (anatid)?
  • "Pararallus" hassenkampi (Sieblos Dysodil Early Oligocene of Sieblos, Germany)
  • Riacama (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
  • Smiliornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
  • Teracus (Early Oligocene of France)
  • Teleornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – anatid?
  • Pseudolarus (Deseado Early Oligocene - Miocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis BMNH PAL 4989 (Hampstead Early Oligocene of Isle of Wight, England) – formerly "Ptenornis" and included in Headonornis; anseriform?
  • "Anas" creccoides (Early-mid Oligocene of Belgium) – anseriform?
  • "Charadrius" sheppardianus (Florissant middle Oligocene of Florissant, USA) – charadriiform (charadriid?)
  • Megagallinula (Indricotherium middle Oligocene of Chelkar-Teniz, Kazakhstan)
  • "Palaeorallus" alienus (middle Oligocene of Tatal-Gol, Mongolia) – galliform?
  • "Vanellus" selysii (middle Oligocene of Rupelmonde, Belgium) – charadriiform (charadriid)?
  • Anserpica (Late Oligocene of France) – gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
  • Gnotornis (Brule Late Oligocene of Shannon County, USA) – gruiform (aramid)?
  • Guguschia (Late Oligocene of Pirəkəşkül, Azerbaijan) – anseriform (anserine)? pelagornithid (same as Caspiodontornis)?
  • Tiliornis (Late? Oligocene of Argentina) – phoenicopteriform? A nomen dubium
  • Neornithes incerta sedis QM F40203 (Late Oligocene of Riversleigh, Australia) – gruiform (rallid)?
  • Gaviella (Oligocene? of Wyoming, USA) – gaviiform? plotopterid?
  • "Anas" skalicensis (Early Miocene of "Skalitz", Czechia) - anseriform?
  • Chenornis (Early Miocene) - Anseriformes (Anatidae) or Pelecaniformes (Phalacrocoracidae)?
  • "Propelargus" olseni (Hawthorne Early Miocene of Tallahassee, USA) - ciconiiform?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis MNHN SA 1259-1263 (Early/Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) - passeriform?
  • Anisolornis (Santa Cruz Middle Miocene of Karaihen, Argentina) - gruiform, galliform, tinamiform?
  • "Ardea" perplexa (Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) - ardeid? strigiform?
  • "Cygnus herrenthalsi" (Middle Miocene of Belgium)
  • "Anas" risgoviensis (Late Miocene of Bavaria, Germany) - anseriform?
  • "Ardea" aureliensis (Late Miocene of France) - ardeid?
  • Eoneornis (Miocene of Argentina)- anatid? A nomen dubium
  • Eutelornis (Miocene of Argentina) - anatid?
  • Protibis (Miocene of Argentina) - ciconiiform (threskiornithid)?
  • "Limnatornis" paludicola (Miocene of France) - coliid? phoeniculid?
  • "Picus" gaudryi (Miocene of France) - piciform?
  • "Ardea" lignitum (Late Pliocene of Germany) - ardeid? strigid (genus Bubo)?
  • Bathoceleus (Pliocene of New Providence, Bahamas) - picid?
  • "Homalopus" - piciform? Preoccupied by a subgenus of Cryptocephalus leaf beetles described in 1835.
  • Juncitarsus - phoenicopteriform?
  • Kashinia - phoenicopteriform?
  • "Liptornis" - pelecaniform (pelecanid)? A nomen dubium
  • Proceriavis - eleutherornithid? pelagornithid?
  • Protopelicanus - pelecaniform (pelecanid)? pelagornithid?
  • Pseudocrypturus - lithornithiform?
  • Archaeotrogonidae - basal Cypselomorphae?
    • Archaeotrogonidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
    • Archaeotrogon (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • Cladornithidae - pelecaniform?
    • Cladornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina)
  • Eleutherornithidae
  • Eocypselidae - apodiform (hemiprocnid?)? caprimulgiform? basal Cypselomorphae?
    • Eocypselus (Late Paleocene ?- Early Eocene of NC Europe)
  • Eremopezidae - pelecaniform? ratite?
  • Foratidae - cuculiform?
    • Foro (Early Eocene)
  • Fluvioviridavidae
  • Gracilitarsidae - close to Sylphornithidae?
  • Halcyornithidae - psittaciform (= Pseudasturidae?), coraciiform?
    • Cyrilavis (Green River Early Eocene of C USA) - includes "Primobucco" olsoni - psittaciform (halcyornithid or psittacid)?
    • Halcyornis (London Clay Early Eocene of England)
  • Laornithidae - charadriiform? gruiform? pelagornithid?
  • Messelasturidae - accipitrid? basal to Strigiformes? psittaciform?
    • Tynskya (Early Eocene of N America and England)
    • Messelastur (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • Palaeospizidae - passeriform? coraciiform? coliiform?
    • Palaeospiza (Late Eocene of Florissant Fossil Beds, USA)
  • Parvicuculidae - cypselomorph, cuculiform, coraciiform (primobucconid)?
  • Remiornithidae (Paleocene of France) - palaeognath?
  • Sylphornithidae - cuculiform? coraciiform? close to Gracilitarsidae?
  • Tytthostonygidae - procellariiform, pelecaniform?
  • Zygodactylidae - near passerine, includes Primoscenidae
  • "Graculavidae" - a paraphyletic form taxon, the "transitional shorebirds"
    • Graculavus (Late Cretaceous -? Early Palaeocene) - charadriiform?
    • Palaeotringa (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) - charadriiform?
    • Telmatornis (Late Cretaceous?) - charadriiform? gruiform? podicipediform?
    • Zhylgaia (Early Paleocene) - presbyornithid?
    • Scaniornis (Early/Middle Paleocene) - phoenicopteriform?
    • Dakotornis (Paleocene of North Dakota, USA)
    • Placement unresolved
      • "Graculavidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Gloucester County, USA)

[edit] Struthioniformes

Ostrich and related ratites.

[edit] Lithornithiformes (extinct)

[edit] Tinamiformes

  • Tinamidae - Tinamous
    • Querandiornis (Ensenada Early/Middle Pleistocene of Argentina)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Tinamidae gen. et sp. indet. MACN-SC Fleagle Collection (Early - Middle Miocene of S Argentina) - at least 2 species
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera

[edit] Anseriformes

Dromornis
Genyornis

The group that includes modern ducks and geese.

  • Basal and unresolved forms
    • Vegavis (Late Cretaceous) – closer to Presbyornithidae and Anatidae than to Anseranatidae
    • Anatalavis (Late Cretaceous/Early Paleocene – Early Eocene) – anseranatid or basal. Includes "Telmatornis" rex.
    • Romainvillia (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) – anseranatide or anatide
    • Proherodius (Early Eocene) – presbyornithid?
    • Paranyroca (Early Miocene) – anatide or own family?
  • Anhimidae – screamers
  • Dromornithidae – the Australian mihirungs or "demon ducks". The youngest genus (Genyornis) was encountered by humans.
  • Anseranatidae – magpie-geese
    • Anseranatidae gen. et sp. nov (Late Oligocene)
  • Presbyornithidae
  • Anatidae – ducks, geese and swans
    • Eonessa (Eocene)
    • Cygnavus (Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
    • Cygnopterus (middle Oligocene – Early Miocene) – sometimes included in Cygnavus
    • Mionetta (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene) – includes "Anas" blanchardi, "A." consobrina, "A." natator
    • Australotadorna (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
    • Pinpanetta (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
    • Dunstanetta (Early/Middle Miocene)
    • Manuherikia (Early/Middle Miocene)
    • Matanas (Early/Middle Miocene)
    • Miotadorna (Early/Middle Miocene)
    • Megalodytes (Middle Miocene)
    • Sinanas (Middle Miocene)
    • Anserobranta (Late Miocene) – includes "Anas" robusta, validity doubtful
    • Dendrochen (Late Miocene) – includes "Anas" integra
    • Presbychen (Late Miocene)
    • Afrocygnus (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene)
    • Balcanas (Early Pliocene) – may belong in Tadorna
    • Wasonaka (Middle Pliocene)
    • Paracygnus (Late Pliocene)
    • Anabernicula (Late Pliocene? – Late Pleistocene)
    • Eremochen (Pliocene)
    • Tirarinetta (Pliocene)
    • Brantadorna (Middle Pleistocene)
    • Nannonetta (Late Pleistocene)
    • Aldabranas (Late Pleistocene)
    • Placement unresolved
      • "Anas" luederitzensis (Early Miocene)
      • "Oxura" doksana (Early Miocene)
      • Anatidae gen. et sp. indet. MNZ S42797 (Early/Middle Miocene)
      • "Aythya" chauvirae (Middle Miocene) – 2 species
      • "cf. Megalodytes" (Middle Miocene)
      • Anatidae gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene)
      • "Anas" meyerii (Middle Miocene)
      • "Anas" velox (Middle - Late? Miocene) – may include "A." meyerii
      • "Anas" albae (Late Miocene) – formerly in Mergus
      • "Anas" isarensis (Late Miocene)
      • "Anser" scaldii (Late Miocene)
      • Anatidae gen. et spp. indet. (Late Miocene)
      • "Anas" eppelsheimensis (Early Pliocene)
      • "Chenopis" nanus (Pleistocene) – at least 2 taxa, may be living species
    • Extant and recently extinct genera present in the fossil record
      • Somateria (middle Oligocene? – Recent)
      • Bucephala (Middle Miocene – Recent)
      • Clangula (Middle Miocene – Recent)
      • Cygnus (Late Miocene – Recent)
      • Histrionicus (Middle Miocene – Recent) – includes Ocyplonessa
      • Mergus (Middle Miocene – Recent)
      • Anas (Late Miocene – Recent)
      • Anser (Late Miocene – Recent) – includes Heterochen
      • Aythya (Late Miocene – Recent)
      • Branta (Late Miocene – Recent)
      • Oxyura (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene – Recent)
      • Chendytes (Early Pleistocene – Holocene)
      • Lophodytes (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
      • Neochen (Late Pleistocene – Recent)

[edit] Galliformes

The group that includes domestic chickens and their relatives.

[edit] Charadriiformes

Gulls, auks, shorebirds

[edit] Gastornithiformes (extinct)

The diatrymas, a group of huge flightless Paleogene birds of unclear affinities. Traditionally placed within the Gruiformes, they are usually considered a distinct order nowadays and appear closer to the Anseriformes.

  • Gastornithidae
    • Gastornis (Late Paleocene - middle Eocene) - includes Diatryma
    • Gasthornithidae gen. et sp. indet. (Paleocene) - possibly Gastornis
    • Gasthornithidae gen. et sp. indet. YPM PU 13258 (Early Eocene) - possibly juvenile Gastornis giganteus
    • "Diatryma" cotei (middle-Late Eocene)
    • Zhongyuanus

[edit] Gruiformes

The group that includes modern rails and cranes. Probably paraphyletic.

  • Placement unresolved
  • Parvigruidae
    • Parvigrus (Early Oligocene of Pichovet, France)
  • Songziidae - possibly a nomen nudum
  • Rallidae - Rails
    • Eocrex (Early Eocene)
    • Palaeorallus (Early Eocene)
    • Parvirallus (Early - middle Eocene)
    • Aletornis (middle Eocene) - includes Protogrus
    • Fulicaletornis (middle Eocene)
    • Latipons (middle Eocene)
    • Ibidopsis (Late Eocene)
    • Quercyrallus (Late Eocene -? Late Oligocene)
    • Belgirallus (Early Oligocene)
    • Rallicrex (Middle/Late Oligocene)
    • Palaeoaramides (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene - Late Miocene)
    • Paraortygometra (Late Oligocene/?Early Miocene -? Middle Miocene)
    • Pararallus (Late Oligocene? - Late Miocene) - possibly belongs into Palaeoaramides
    • Miofulica (Middle Miocene)
    • Youngornis (Middle Miocene)
    • Miorallus (Middle - Late Miocene)
    • Creccoides (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene)
      • Rallidae gen. et spp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) - several species
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene)
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V55013/-14; UMMP V55012/V45750/V45746 (Late Pliocene)
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V29080 (Late Pliocene)
      • Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Bermuda, West Atlantic)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Gallinula (Late Oligocene - Recent)
      • Rallus (Middle Miocene - Recent) - includes Epirallus
      • Porzana (Middle? Miocene - Recent)
      • Fulica (Early Pliocene - Recent)
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Eogruidae
    • Eogrus (Irdin Manha Middle/Late Eocene - Tung Gur Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Mongolia)
    • Sonogrus (Ergilin Dzo Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Khor Dzan, Mongolia)
  • Ergilornithidae - may belong in Eogruidae
  • Gruidae - Cranes
    • Palaeogrus (middle Eocene of Germany and Italy - Middle Miocene of France)
    • Camusia (Late Miocene of Menorca, Mediterranean)
    • Pliogrus (Early Pliocene of Eppelsheim, Germany)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Gruidae gen. et sp. indet. - formerly Grus conferta (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Contra Costa County, USA)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Balearica (Early Miocene - Recent) - includes Basityto and Grus excelsa/Ornithocnemis excelsus
      • Grus (Middle/Late Miocene - Recent)
  • Messelornithidae - Messel-birds
  • Salmilidae
  • Ameghinornithidae
    • Strigogyps - probably includes Aenigmavis and Ameghinornis
  • Geranoididae
  • Bathornithidae
    • Eutreptornis (Uinta Late Eocene of Ouray Agency, USA)
    • Neocathartes (Late Eocene)
    • Palaeogyps (Early Oligocene of WC North America)
    • Bathornithidae gen. nov. (Early - middle Oligocene of C USA) - formerly Bathornis celeripes and B. cursor
    • Paracrax (Early/middle Oligocene of Gerry's Ranch, USA - Brule Late Oligocene of South Dakota, USA) - includes Oligocorax|Oligocorax/Phalacrocorax mediterraneus
    • Bathornis (Early Oligocene - Early Miocene of C USA)
Paraphysornis

[edit] Phoenicopteriformes

  • Placement unresolved
    • Phoeniconotius (Etadunna Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of Lake Pitikanta, Australia)
  • Palaelodidae - Swimming-flamingos
  • Phoenicopteridae - Flamingos
    • Elornis (Middle? Eocene - Early Oligocene) - includes Actiornis
    • Placement unresolved
      • Phoenicopteridae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle? - Late Miocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record

[edit] Podicipediformes

  • Podicipedidae - Grebes
    • Miobaptus (Early Miocene)
    • Thiornis (Late Miocene -? Early Pliocene)
    • Pliolymbus (Late Pliocene - Early? Pleistocene)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Podicipedidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene) - formerly included in Podiceps parvus
      • Podicipedidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP 49592, 52261, 51848, 52276, KUVP 4484 (Late Pliocene)
      • Podicipedidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record

[edit] Ciconiiformes

The diverse group that includes storks, herons and New World vultures. Paraphyletic as listed here.

Teratornis
  • Teratornithidae - Teratorns
  • Cathartidae - New World vultures
    • Diatropornis (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene -? middle Oligocene)
    • Phasmagyps (Early Oligocene)
    • Brasilogyps (Late Oligocene - Early Miocene)
    • Hadrogyps (Middle Miocene)
    • Pliogyps (Late Miocene - Late Pliocene)
    • Perugyps (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
    • Dryornis (Early - Late? Pliocene) - may belong to modern genus Vultur
    • Aizenogyps (Late Pliocene)
    • Breagyps (Late Pleistocene)
    • Geronogyps (Late Pleistocene)
    • Wingegyps (Late Pleistocene)
    • Parasarcoramphus
    • Placement unresolved
      • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene of Mongolia)
      • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, USA)
      • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Pliocene of Argentina)
      • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Cuba)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Sarcoramphus (Middle Pliocene ?- Recent)
      • Gymnogyps (Early Pleistocene - Recent)
      • Vultur (Pliocene - Recent) - distinctiveness disputed
  • Balaenicipitidae - Shoebills
    • Goliathia (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Egypt)
    • Paludavis (Late Miocene of Tunisia and Pakistan)
  • Ciconiidae - Storks
    • Palaeoephippiorhynchus (Early Oligocene)
    • Grallavis (Early Miocene) - may be same as Prociconia
    • Pelargosteon (Early Pleistocene)
    • Prociconia (Late Pleistocene) - may belong to modern genus Jabiru or Ciconia
    • Placement unresolved
      • Ciconiidae gen. et sp. indet. - formerly Aquilavus/Cygnus bilinicus (Early Miocene)
      • Ciconiidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
      • cf. Leptoptilos gen. et sp. indet. - formerly L. siwalicensis (Late Miocene? - Late Pliocene)
      • Ciconiidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pleistocene) - Ciconia or Mycteria?
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record

[edit] Pelecaniformes

The group that includes modern pelicans and cormorants. As presented here paraphyletic; the tropicbird lineage is not part of this group and relationships with Procellariiformes and Sphenisciformes require more research. Also, as the pelicans are at least as close to the Ciconiiformes as to cormorants, the latter group is being recognized as Phalacrocoraciiformes by some recent authors and the core Pelecaniformes are occasionally merged into the Ciconiiformes.

  • Basal and unresolved forms
    • Piscator (Late Eocene of England) – basal phalacrococacoid?
    • "Sula ronzoni (Early Oligocene of Ronzon, France) – formerly Mergus and Prophalacrocorax
    • "Pelecaniformes" gen. et sp. indet. (Jebel Qatrani Early Oligocene of Fayum, Egypt) basal phalacrococacoid (similar to Piscator?)?
    • Borvocarbo (Late Oligocene of C Europe) – phalacrocoracid? basal phalacrococacoid?
  • Prophaethontidae
  • Phaethontidae – Tropicbirds
  • Fregatidae – Frigatebirds
  • Sulidae – Gannets and boobies
    • Masillastega (middle Eocene)
    • Eostega (Middle/Late Eocene)
    • Empheresula (Late Oligocene – Middle Miocene)
    • Microsula (Late Oligocene – Middle Miocene)
    • Sarmatosula (Middle Miocene)
    • Miosula (Late Miocene)
    • Palaeosula (?Early Pliocene)
    • Rhamphastosula (Early Pliocene)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Sulidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene)
      • Sulidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Morus (Early Miocene – Recent)
      • Sula (Middle Pliocene – Recent)
Copepteryx
Osteodontornis

[edit] Procellariiformes

The group that includes modern albatrosses, petrels and storm-petrels.

[edit] Gaviiformes

  • Gaviidae - Loons
    • Colymboides (Late Eocene - Early Miocene) - includes Dyspetornis and Hydrornis; paraphyletic?
    • Placement unresolved
      • "Gavia" portisi (Late Pliocene of Orciano Pisano, Italy) - rentatively placed here. A nomen dubium?
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Gavia (Early Miocene - Recent)

[edit] Sphenisciformes

Waimanu
Icadyptes

[edit] Pteroclidiformes

[edit] Columbiformes

  • Columbidae - Doves and pigeons
    • Arenicolumba (Early Miocene) – doubtfully distinct from Patagioenas
    • Rupephaps (Early Miocene)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Columbidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record

[edit] Psittaciformes

Unresolved and basal fossil parrots:

[edit] Opisthocomiformes

Hoatzins

[edit] Cuculiformes

Cuckoos, turacos and allies.

  • Placement unresolved
    • Cuculiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
  • Musophagidae - Turacos
    • Veflintornis (Middle Miocene) - formerly Apopempsis
    • Placement unresolved
      • Musophagidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene - Middle Miocene of WC Europe)
      • "Apopempsis africanus (Early Miocene) - formerly Musophaga, might belong in Veflintornis
      • Musophagidae gen. et sp. indet. (Egypt)
  • Cuculidae - Cuckoos

[edit] Falconiformes

Birds of prey. Possibly polyphyletic or paraphyletic.

  • Unresolved and basal forms
  • Horusornithidae
  • Pandionidae – Ospreys
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Pandion (Early Oligocene – Recent)
  • Sagittariidae – Secretarybirds
    • Pelargopappus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of France) – formerly Amphiserpentarius/Amynoptilon/Pelargopsis
  • Accipitridae – Hawks, eagles and Old World vultures
    • Milvoides (Late Eocene)
    • Aquilavus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
    • Palaeocircus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
    • Palaeastur (Early Miocene)
    • Pengana (Early Miocene)
    • Promilio (Early Miocene)
    • Proictinia (Early – Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
    • Neophrontops (Early/middle Miocene – Late Pleistocene) – formerly in Neophron
    • Mioaegypius (middle Miocene)
    • Apatosagittarius (Late Miocene)
    • Gansugyps (Late Miocene)
    • Palaeoborus (Miocene)
    • Qiluornis (Miocene)
    • Thegornis (Miocene)
    • Garganoaetus (Early Pliocene)
    • Amplibuteo (Late Pliocene of Peru – Late Pleistocene) – may belong to extant genus Harpyhaliaetus (or Buteogallus)
    • Neogyps
    • Palaeohierax – includes "Aquila" gervaisii
    • Wetmoregyps – formerly Morphnus daggetti
    • Placement unresolved
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. AMNH FR 7434 (Early Eocene)
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Oligocene)
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene)
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. MPEF-PV-2523 (Late Miocene)
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Pliocene) – Parabuteo?
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene) – Buteo?
      • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Egypt)
      • "Aquila" danana (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene) – formerly also Geranoaetus or Buteo
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Falconidae – Falcons
    • Parvulivenator (Early Eocene)
    • Stintonornis (Early Eocene)
    • Badiostes (Early Miocene)
    • Pediohierax (Middle Miocene) – formerly Falco ramenta
    • Placement unresolved
      • Falconidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
      • "Sushkinia" pliocaena (Early Pliocene) – belongs into Falco?
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Falco (Late Miocene? – Recent)
      • Milvago (Late Pleistocene -–Recent)
      • Caracara (Late Pleistocene – Recent) – formerly Polyborus

[edit] Caprimulgiformes

Nightjars, potoos and allies. Apparently paraphyletic.

[edit] Aegotheliformes

Owlet-nightjars

[edit] Apodiformes

Swifts and hummingbirds.

[edit] Coliiformes

Mousebirds and relatives

[edit] Strigiformes

Owls and barn owls

  • Unresolved and basal forms
    • Berruornis (Late Paleocene) - basal? Sophornithidae?
    • Strigiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Paleocene)
    • Palaeoglaux (middle - Late Eocene) - own family Palaeoglaucidae or Strigidae?
    • Palaeobyas (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) - Tytonidae? Sophiornithidae?
    • Palaeotyto (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) - Tytonidae?
    • Strigiformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early Oligocene)
  • Ogygoptyngidae
  • Protostrigidae
    • Eostrix (Early - middle Eocene)
    • Minerva (middle - Late Eocene) - formerly Protostrix, includes "Aquila" ferox, "Aquila" lydekkeri, and "Bubo" leptosteus
    • Oligostrix (middle Oligocene)
  • Sophiornithidae
  • Strigidae - Typical owls
    • Mioglaux (Late Oligocene? - Early Miocene) - includes "Bubo" poirreiri
    • Intutula (Early/Middle -? Late Miocene) - includes "Strix/Ninox" brevis
    • Oraristrix (Late Pleistocene)
    • Alasio (Middle Miocene) - includes "Strix" collongensis
    • Placement unresolved
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Strix (Early Miocene - Recent)
      • Bubo (Late Miocene? - Recent)
      • Asio (Late Pliocene - Recent)
      • Athene (Late Pliocene - Recent)
      • Glaucidium (Late Pliocene - Recent)
      • Surnia (Late Pliocene - Recent)
      • Pulsatrix (Late Pleistocene - Recent)
  • Tytonidae - Barn owls

[edit] Coraciiformes

Rollers and allies. Probably paraphyletic.

[edit] Trogoniformes

  • Trogonidae - Trogons
    • Septentrogon (Fur Late Paleocene/Early Eocene of Ejerslev, Denmark)
    • Primotrogon (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany? - Early Oligocene of France)
    • Paratrogon (Early Miocene of France)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Trogonidae gen. et sp. indet. 1 (NW Europe)
      • Trogonidae gen. et sp. indet. 2 (NW Europe)

[edit] Piciformes

  • Placement unresolved
    • Piciformes gen. et sp. indet. IRScNB Av 65 (Early Oligocene)
    • Rupelramphastoides (Early Oligocene) - ramphastid?
    • Piciformes gen. et sp. indet. SMF Av 429 (Late Oligocene)
    • Capitonides (Early - Middle Miocene) - ramphastid? "capitonid" (Lybiidae, Megalaimidae)? own family Capitonididae?
    • Pici gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene) - "capitonid" (Lybiidae, Megalaimidae?)
  • Miopiconidae
    • Miopico
  • Lybiidae - African barbets
    • Lybiidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene) - extant genus Pogoniulus?
  • Galbulidae
  • Picidae - Woodpeckers

[edit] Passeriformes

  • Placement unresolved
    • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early Eocene) – several species, oscine?
    • Wieslochia (Early Oligocene)
    • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Late Oligocene) – several suboscine and oscine species
    • Certhiops (Early Miocene of Germany) – basal Certhioidea
    • Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – suboscine?
    • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – several species, oscine?
    • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene) – several species, basal?
    • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene) – several species, oscine?
    • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Late Miocene) – Sylvioidea
    • "Palaeostruthus"eurius (Pliocene)
  • Eurylaimidae – broadbills
    • Placement unresolved
      • Eurylaimidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Miocene)
  • Palaeoscinidae
  • Furnariidae – ovenbirds
  • Menuridae – lyretails
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Menura (Early Miocene - Recent)
  • Meliphagidae – honeyeaters
    • Placement unresolved
      • Meliphagidae gen. et spp. indet. (Middle/Late Miocene - Pliocene of Riversleigh, Australia) – at least 7 spp., some may be from extant genera
  • Orthonychidae – logrunners
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Orthonyx (Middle/Late Miocene - Recent)
  • Oriolidae – Old World orioles
    • Longimornis (Early Miocene of Riversleigh, Australia)
  • Artamidae – woodswallows, butcherbirds, currawongs and Australian Magpie
    • Placement unresolved
      • Artamidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – cracticine
  • Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies
    • Miocorvus (Middle Miocene)
    • Miopica (Middle Miocene)
    • Miocitta (Late Miocene)
    • Protocitta (Early Pleistocene)
    • Henocitta (Middle Pleistocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
    • Placement unresolved
      • Corvidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Pliocene)
      • Corvidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Pleistocene) – probably belongs in extant genus
  • Laniidae – shrikes
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Lanius (Early Miocene - Recent)
  • Regulidae – kinglets
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Hirundinidae – swallows and martins
    • Placement unresolved
      • Hirundinidae gen. et spp. indet. (Early Pliocene of Langebaanweg, South Africa) – 2 species
  • Megaluridae – grass-warblers and allies
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Acrocephalidae – marsh- and tree-warblers
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Turdidae – thrushes
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • ?Turdus (Middle? Miocene - Recent)
  • Motacillidae – wagtails
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Fringillidae – finches
  • Icteridae – grackles and New World orioles
  • Cardinalidae – cardinals
    • Placement unresolved
      • Passerina sp. (Early Pliocene of Yepómera, Mexico)
  • Emberizidae – buntings and New World sparrows
    • Pampaemberiza (Middle Pleistocene of Necochea, Argentina)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Ammodramus (Late Miocene - Recent) – including Palaeostruthus
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera

[edit] Avians incertae sedis

Hongshanornis longicresta, probably one of the most primitive ornithurine birds

These fossil taxa cannot be assigned to any major group with reasonable certainty. The "proto-birds" above are of some indeterminate basal position in the entire avian (and paravian) radiation, but known from such diagnostic material that their relationships at the family level are known. In contrast, the taxa here have a hypodigm that is usually just sufficient for giving them a valid scientific name, but not for phylogenetic purposes beyond classing them as pygostylians or more modern birds. Some, however, are known from such fragmentary remains that the possibility that they are non-avian "reptiles" such as dinosaurs cannot be ruled out at present.

  • †Aberratiodontus (Early Cretaceous) - enantiornithine? (own family?) Same as Yanornis?
  • †Dalingheornis (Early Cretaceous) - enantiornithine?
  • †Gallornis (Early -? Late Cretaceous) - neornithine? (neognath?)
  • †Holbotia (Early Cretaceous of Andaikhudag, Mongolia) - basal pygostylian?
  • †"Jibeinia" (Early Cretaceous) - euenantiornithine? A nomen dubium
  • †Nanantius (Early Cretaceous) - enantiornithine?
  • †Otogornis (Yijinhuoluo Early Cretaceous of Yike Zhaomeng, China) - basal pygostylian? enantiornithine (cathayornithid)?
  • †Parahongshanornis (Early Cretaceous) - hongshanornithid? ornithurine?
  • †Paraprotopteryx (Early Cretaceous of China) - enantiornithine?
  • †Protopteryx (Early Cretaceous of China) - enantiornithine?
  • †Wyleyia (Early Cretaceous) - basal enantiornithine? neornithine (paleognath)?
  • †Zhongornis (Early Cretaceous) - basal avian or juvenile confuciusornithid?
  • †Aves gen. et sp. indet. Sahat Sakhan Dinosaur Research Centre collection, unnumbered (Sao Khua Early Cretaceous of Khok Kong, Thailand) - ornithurine?
  • † Maniraptora gen. et sp. indet. IVPP V11309 (Yixian Early Cretaceous of Jianshangou, China) - basal pygostylian? therizinosaur (close to Beipiaosaurus?)?
  • †Aves? gen. et sp. indet. NMC 50852 (Early/Late Cretaceous of Kem Kem region, Morocco) - avian? dromaeosaurid (close to Rahonavis)?
  • †Alamitornis (Los Alamitos Formation Late Cretaceous of Los Alamitos, Argentina) - pygostylian (related to Patagopteryx)?
  • †Apatornis (Late Cretaceous) - neornithine (anseriform)?
  • †"Cerebavis" (Late Cretaceous) - enantiornithine? A nomen dubium
  • †"Elopteryx" (Late Cretaceous) - pygostylian? non-avian dinosaur? A nomen dubium
  • †Euornithes gen. et sp. indet. (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan)
  • †Gargantuavis (Late Cretaceous) - pygostylian? (enantiornithine?) basal ornithurine?
  • †Hulsanpes (Late Cretaceous) - basal avian? non-avian dinosaur?
  • †Iaceornis (Late Cretaceous of Gove County, USA) - neornithine or basal ornithurine
  • †Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. IGM 100/1309 (Nemegt Late Cretaceous of Tsagaan Kushu, Mongolia) - presbyornithid?
  • †Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. IGM 100/1310 (Nemegt Late Cretaceous of Tsagaan Kushu, Mongolia) - basal?
  • †Horezmavis (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan) - enantiornithine (gobipterygiform?), basal ornithurine or gruiform
  • †"Ichthyornis" minusculus (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan) - enantiornithine?
  • †cf. Nanantius (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan) - enantiornithine?
  • †Neogaeornis (Late Cretaceous) - baptornithid or neornithine (gaviiform, procellariiform?)
  • †Patagopteryx (Late Cretaceous) - pygostylian? (enantiornithine?)
  • †Piksi (Two Medicine Late Cretaceous of Montana) - ornithothoracine (perhaps distinct lineage), basal ornithurine or neornithine?
  • †Platanavis (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan)
  • †Potamornis (Late Cretaceous) - hesperornithid? baptornithid? enaliornithid?
  • †Vorona (Late Cretaceous) - enantiornithine? basal ornithuromorph?
  • †UCMP 143274 (Lance Creek Late Cretaceous of Niobrara County, USA) - psittaciform? non-avian?
  • †Polarornis (Late Cretaceous or Eocene) - gaviiform or pygostylian, may be synonym of Neogaeornis
  • †Yandangornis (Late Cretaceous) - basal avian? non-avian dinosaur?
  • †Guildavis (Cretaceous of Wallace County, USA) - neornithine or basal ornithurine
  • †Qinornis (Fangou Early/Middle Paleocene of Luonan County, China) - neornithine?
  • †"Cathayornis" aberransis
  • †"Cathayornis" caudatus
  • †Gobipipus
  • †"Ichthyornis" maltshevskyi
  • †Chaoyangiidae - pygostylian (ornithurine?), yanornithiform?
    • Chaoyangia (Jiufotang Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China)
  • †Hongshanornithidae - pygostylian? ornithurine?
  • †Zhyraornithidae - enantiornithiform, ornithurine?

[edit] Liaoningornithiformes (extinct)

  • Liaoningornithidae - pygostylian? ornithurine?

[edit] Eurolimnornithiformes (extinct)

  • Eurolimnornithidae - basal ornithurine, neognath (grebe?) or non-avian?

[edit] Palaeocursornithiformes (extinct)

  • Palaeocursornithidae - basal ornithurine, paleognath (ratite) or non-avian?


[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Sereno (2005)
  2. ^ Chiappe (2001, 2002)
  3. ^ See e.g. Mortimer (2004), Sereno (2005)
  4. ^ Clarke et al. (2006)
  5. ^ Fide Gauther & de Queiroz (2001)
  6. ^ Fide Chiappe (2002)

[edit] References

  • Chiappe, Luis M. (2001): The rise of birds. In: Briggs, Derek E.G. & Crowther, P.R. (eds.): Palaeobiology II: A Synthesis: 102-106. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
  • Chiappe, Luis M. (2002): Basal bird phylogeny: problems and solutions. In: Chiappe, L.M. and Witmer, L.M. (eds.): Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs: 448-472. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.
  • Clarke, Julia A.; Zhou, Zhonghe & Zhang, Fucheng (2006): Insight into the evolution of avian flight from a new clade of Early Cretaceous ornithurines from China and the morphology of Yixianornis grabaui. Journal of Anatomy 208 (3):287-308. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00534.x PMID 16533313 PDF fulltext Electronic Appendix
  • Gauthier, Jacques A. & de Queiroz, Kevin (2001): Feathered dinosaurs, flying dinosaurs, crown dinosaurs, and the name "Aves". In: Gauthier, Jacques & Gall, L.F. (eds.): New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds: Proceedings of the International Symposium in Honor of John H. Ostrom: 7-41. Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
  • Mortimer, Michael (2004): The Theropod Database: Phylogeny of taxa. Retrieved 2008-AUG-14.
  • Olson, Storrs L. (1985): The fossil record of birds. In: Farner, D.S.; King, J.R. & Parkes, Kenneth C. (eds.): Avian Biology 8: 79-238. Academic Press, New York.
  • Sereno, Paul Callistus (2005): TaxonSearch: Stem Archosauria. Version 1.0, November 7, 2005. Retrieved 2007-APR-30.

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