Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
337 / Cenozoic
Lithornis
Lithornis vulturinus
A strong flyer belonged near lineages whose living members are mostly flightless.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 60–50 million years ago
- Final stage
- Early Eocene
- Geographic range
- Warm forests · Europe
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Lithornis?
Lithornis (Lithornis vulturinus) was an extinct organism known from About 60–50 million years ago, with a range in Warm forests · Europe.
Life and ecology
Lithornis used a slender bill and capable wings to forage through Paleogene forests.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Lithornis disappear?
Changes in Eocene forests and bird communities are possible context for the end of these flying paleognaths; a specific cause is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Lithornis?
Three-dimensional skulls and complete wing bones show flight ability and affinity.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS