Copepteryx
Copepteryx is an extinct genus of flightless bird of the family Plotopteridae, endemic to Japan during the Oligocene living from 28.4—23 mya, meaning it existed for approximately 5.4 million years .[1]
| Copepteryx Temporal range: Late Oligocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossil sternum from Kitahata Karatsu, Japan | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | †Plotopteridae |
| Genus: | †Copepteryx Olson & Hasegawa, 1996 |
| Species | |
| |
Taxonomy
Restoration of Copepteryx hexeris
Copepteryx was named by Olson and Hasegawa in 1996. Its type is Copepteryx hexeris. It was assigned to Plotopteridae by Olson and Hasegawa in 1996.
The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words Kope and pteryx meaning oar wing. The apparent reference to the 19th Century Paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope is accidental.
Copepteryx was a diving plotopterid bird which is similar to the Waimanu.[2]
Description
The bird was aquatic[3] and likely ate fish and squid. It is unknown if it had any predators.
References
- "Copepteryx". paleodb.org. Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- Mayr, Gerald (2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer. p. 262. ISBN 3540896279.
- "Copepteryx hexeris Olson and Hasegawa 1996 (bird)". Fossilworks.
- Biology of Marine Birds (Marine Biology) by E. A. Schreiber and Joanna Burger
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