Laornis is a genus of a prehistoric neornithine birds, known only from Specimen YPM 820, a single tibiotarsus leg bone[1] discovered in the late 19th century. Consequently, the genus is monotypic, containing only the speciesLaornis edvardsianus. Regarding its scientific name, Laornis means "stone bird", from Ancient Greeklao "stone" + ornis "bird". edvardsianus honors Alphonse Milne-Edwards, to compliment the French 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]
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 Charadriiformes and the Gruiformes, and is tentatively placed in a family of its own, Laornithidae. It may be considered some kind of basal gruiform, or more probably part of an ancestral lineage related to the common ancestor of gruiform, charadriiform, and/or any or all other modern "wading" bird families. It might have been one of the extinct stilt-legged waterfowl of the Presbyornithidae, and it cannot even be excluded that it was an ancient pseudotooth bird, seabirds of unclear affiliation that evolved to immense proportions in the Neogene but by the time of Laornis probably were mostly the size of a large petrel.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdCracraft, 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)
^Marsh, Othniel Charles (1870). "Notice of some fossil birds from Cretaceous and Tertiary formations of the United States". American Journal of Science. Series 2. 49 (146): 205–217. Bibcode:1870AmJS...49..205M. doi:10.2475/ajs.s2-49.146.205. S2CID 130238178.
^Wetmore, Alexander (1930). "The age of the supposed Cretaceous birds from New Jersey" (PDF). Auk. 47 (2): 186–188. doi:10.2307/4075921. JSTOR 4075921.
^Baird, Donald (1967). "Age of fossil birds from the greensands of New Jersey" (PDF). Auk. 84 (2): 260–262. doi:10.2307/4083191. JSTOR 4083191.
External linksedit
Topographic map of the type locality from TopoQuest
January 01, 1970
laornis, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, chordata, class, aves, family, laornithidaecracraft, 1973, genus, marsh, 1870, species, edvardsianus, binomial, name, edvardsianusmarsh, 1870, synonyms, laopteryx, kurochkin, 19. 39 59 N 74 43 W 39 983 N 74 717 W 39 983 74 717 Laornis Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Family LaornithidaeCracraft 1973 Genus LaornisMarsh 1870 Species L edvardsianus Binomial name Laornis edvardsianusMarsh 1870 Synonyms Laopteryx Kurochkin 1995 lapsus Laornis is a genus of a prehistoric neornithine birds known only from Specimen YPM 820 a single tibiotarsus leg bone 1 discovered in the late 19th century Consequently the genus is monotypic containing only the species Laornis edvardsianus Regarding its scientific name Laornis means stone bird from Ancient Greek lao stone ornis bird edvardsianus honors Alphonse Milne Edwards to compliment the French 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 Charadriiformes and the Gruiformes and is tentatively placed in a family of its own Laornithidae It may be considered some kind of basal gruiform or more probably part of an ancestral lineage related to the common ancestor of gruiform charadriiform and or any or all other modern wading bird families It might have been one of the extinct stilt legged waterfowl of the Presbyornithidae and it cannot even be excluded that it was an ancient pseudotooth bird seabirds of unclear affiliation that evolved to immense proportions in the Neogene but by the time of Laornis probably were mostly the size of a large petrel 1 References edit 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 Marsh Othniel Charles 1870 Notice of some fossil birds from Cretaceous and Tertiary formations of the United States American Journal of Science Series 2 49 146 205 217 Bibcode 1870AmJS 49 205M doi 10 2475 ajs s2 49 146 205 S2CID 130238178 Wetmore Alexander 1930 The age of the supposed Cretaceous birds from New Jersey PDF Auk 47 2 186 188 doi 10 2307 4075921 JSTOR 4075921 Baird Donald 1967 Age of fossil birds from the greensands of New Jersey PDF Auk 84 2 260 262 doi 10 2307 4083191 JSTOR 4083191 External links editTopographic map of the type locality from TopoQuest Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laornis amp oldid 1192986515, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
