Halcyornithidae
Appearance
Halcyornithidae | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | †Halcyornithidae
|
Halcyornithidae or Pseudasturidae is a family of fossil birds, possibly belonging to the order Psittaciformes (parrots and relatives).[1] Members of this family lived in the Eocene, around 55-48 millions years ago. Fossil remains are known from the Green River Formation in the United States and from the London Clay formation in the United Kingdom.[2][3] They were probably the sister group to the owl-like Messelasturidae.[4]
Classification
- Cyrilavis
- Halcyornis
- Pulchrapollia
- Pseudasturides
- Precursor? (probably a chimera)[original research?]
References
- ^ Ksepka, Clarke, Grande (2011). "Stem Parrots (Aves, Halcyornithidae) from the Green River Formation and a Combined Phylogeny of Pan-Psittaciformes". Journal of Paleontology. 85 (5): 835-852. doi:10.1666/10-108.1.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Mayr (2002). "On the osteology and phylogenetic affinities of the Pseudasturidae – Lower Eocene stem-group representatives of parrots (Aves, Psittaciformes)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 136. The Linnean Society of London: 715–729.
- ^ "A new psittaciform bird from the London Clay (Lower Eocene) of England". Wiley Online Library.
- ^ Mayr (2011). "Well-preserved new skeleton of the Middle Eocene Messelastur substantiates sister group relationship between Messelasturidae and Halcyornithidae (Aves, ?Pan-Psittaciformes)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 9 (1): 159-171. doi:10.1080/14772019.2010.505252.