Rhynchaeites

Extinct genus of birds

Rhynchaeites
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Rhynchaeites species fossil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Rhynchaeites
Wittich, 1898
Species:
R. messelensis
Binomial name
Rhynchaeites messelensis
Wittich, 1898

Rhynchaeites is an extinct genus of Threskiornithidae related to modern ibises and has a single named species Rhynchaeites meselensis. It lived in today's Germany during the mid-Eocene and its remains were found in the famous Messel pit.

However, leg bone fossils of a similar bird were found in the Early Eocene Fur Formation in Denmark. It has been hypothesized that the supposed parrot relative Mopsitta tanta, known from a single humerus bone, is the same bird as the leg fossils and thus actually belongs in Rhynchaeites too.

Rhynchaeites messelensis

References

  • "The Origin and Evolution of Birds" by Alan Feduccia
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Genera of ibis, herons, pelicans and their extinct allies
incertae sedis
Torotigidae?
Pelecani
Balaenicipitidae
Pelecanidae
Scopidae
  • Scopus
Ardei
    • See below ↓
Pelecanus conspicillatus
incertae sedis
  • Ardeacites?
Xenerodiopidae
Threskiornithidae
incertae sedis
Plataleinae
Threskiornithinae
Ardeidae
Agamiinae
Ardeinae
Botaurinae
Cochleariinae
Tigriornithinae

Rhynchaeites messelensis ​Platalea regia Ardea cinerea

Taxon identifiers
Rhynchaeites


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