Orientornis is an extinct species of ratite from the Miocene of China.[1]
| Orientornis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pelvic girdle of Orientornis linxiaensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Infraclass: | Palaeognathae |
| Order: | Struthioniformes |
| Family: | Struthionidae |
| Genus: | †Orientornis Wang, 2008 |
| Type species | |
| †Orientornis linxiaensis | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Struthio linxiaensis Hou et al., 2005[1] | |
Description
editRemains of a pelvis, including a synsacrum, were recovered from mudstone in the Linxia Basin, Guanghe County, Gansu Province, northwest China. Based on the size of these remains, it is believed to have been slightly larger than Struthio camelus. When this bird lived, the area is believed to have been either open grasslands or wetlands.[1]
Taxonomy
editOrientornis was originally named as a species of Struthio, S. linxiaensis, by Hou et al. (2005).[1] However, Wang (2008) placed the taxon in its own genus, Orientornis.[2]
Mikhailov and Zelenkov (2020) have disputed the validity of this genus, treating Orientornis as a junior synonym of Struthio, and noting that a direct comparison with Struthio wimani is required, as both taxa may represent the same species.[3]
Footnotes
edit- 1 2 3 4 Hou, L. et al. (2005)
- ↑ Wang S. 2008. Rediscussion in the taxonomic assignment of Struthio linxiaensis Hou, et al., 2005. Acta Paleotologica Sinica 47:362–368.
- ↑ Mikhailov, Konstantin E.; Zelenkov, Nikita (September 2020). "The late Cenozoic history of the ostriches (Aves: Struthionidae), as revealed by fossil eggshell and bone remains". Earth-Science Reviews. 208 103270. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103270.
References
edit- Hou, L.; Zhou, Z.; Zhang, F.; Wang, Z. (Aug 2005). "A Miocene ostrich fossil from Gansu Province, northwest China". Chinese Science Bulletin. 50 (16): 1808–1810. Bibcode:2005ChSBu..50.1808H. doi:10.1360/982005-575 (inactive 12 July 2025). ISSN 1861-9541. S2CID 129449364.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
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