Leptoptilos lüi
| Leptoptilos lüi Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene,
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|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Ciconiiformes |
| Family: | Ciconiidae |
| Genus: | Leptoptilos |
| Species: | L. lüi
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| Binomial name | |
| Leptoptilos lüi Zhang et al., 2012
| |
Leptoptilos lüi is an extinct species of large-bodied Leptoptilini stork that existed during the Middle Pleistocene. Along with Aegypius jinniushanensis, L. lüi is one of several new species of extinct birds discovered at Jinniushan, Liaoning, China.[1] The extinct stork is named after Professor Zun-e Lü.[2]
Extant members of the genus Leptoptilos are today found only found in the African and Asian tropics.[3] L. lüi is the only member of Leptoptilos from the Pleistocene so far to have been discovered outside of its modern range.[3]
Description
[edit]L. lüi is one of the largest Leptoptilos on record and might be larger than Leptoptilos titan and Leptoptilos robustus.[a][4] The humerus and proximal phalanx are longer and more robust than those of any other Leptoptilos on record.[2]
With very long wings, L. lüi was probably a good flyer that mainly relied on gliding and soaring on the thermal air currents available then, as the climate conditions in the region during the Middle Pleistocene was a lot warmer and more humid.[3] L. lüi most likely relied on scavenging from Pleistocene megafauna for the bulk of its food source.[3] The disappearance of Pleistocene megafauna and climate change are likely the primary causes of its extinction.[3]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Insufficient overlapping elements for a full comparison
References
[edit]- ^ Zhang et al. 2012, p. 700.
- ^ a b Zhang et al. 2012, p. 701.
- ^ a b c d e Zhang et al. 2012, p. 705.
- ^ Zhang et al. 2012, p. 702.
Bibliography
[edit]- Zhang, Zihui; Huang, Yunping; James, Helen F.; Hou, Lianhai (2012). "A Marabou (Ciconiidae: Leptoptilos) from the Middle Pleistocene of Northeastern China". The Auk. 129 (4): 699–706. doi:10.1525/auk.2012.11227. S2CID 55170353.
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