Fossil bird sets record for longest wingspan (1 Viewer)

[Microtus]

A fossil bird from 5 to 10 million years ago had a 17 foot wingspan (5.2 meters). Pelagornis chilensis has "the largest safely established wingspan for a bird" according to this press release from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. It is one of the "bony-toothed" birds, so called because these pelagic birds had long, slender beaks characterized by tooth-like projections.

It's pretty neat looking, and has narrow wings reminiscent of an albatross.

 

[njlarsen]

Interesting!

Niels

 

[Mysticete]

of interest also is that the family these birds belong to is the sister group to Anseriformes!

although note that the said safely estimated. The unrelated Argentavis is known from less material but has been estimated at between 6-8 meters wingspan

 

[Microtus]

I missed the sister group part. The surviving Anseriformes seem to have had some interesting relatives (Hawaiian oddities, Australian dromornithids and now this).

 

[Mysticete]

I read the anseriformes part in a fossil bird book recently. Also the famous Diatryma (aka Gastornis) also was a stem anseriform

 

[Microtus]

What is the name of the book?

I wasn't aware that Gastornis/Diatryma is a stem anseriform.

 

[Mysticete]

Paleogene Birds of the World by Gerald Mayr

http://www.amazon.com/Paleogene-Fos...1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1284988576&sr=8-1-fkmr1

you might have to sell an organ to buy it, which makes the small size of the book even more hillarious

 

[Microtus]

Thanks. I think the state university library near me might have a copy; I'll read it there.