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Cladornis

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Cladornis
Temporal range: Oligocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Infraclass: Neognathae
Clade: Neoaves
Genus: Cladornis
Ameghino, 1895
Type species
Cladornis pachypus
(Ameghino, 1895)

Cladornis is an extinct genus of bird from the early Oligocene of Argentina. Known from a single partial tarsometatarsus, its taxonomic placement is uncertain.[1] It has been variously described as some kind of terrestrial penguin, a pelecaniform, and a "very large and extremely weird land bird".[1][2] The shaft the tarsometatarsus of Cladornis was very flat and short, and the distal head suggests strong development of the toes.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Mayr, Gerald (2022). Paleogene fossil birds. Fascinating life sciences (2nd ed.). Cham: Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-87644-9.
  2. ^ Olson, Storrs (1985). Avian biology. New York: Academic Press. p. 193. ISBN 0122494083.