Orientornis is an extinct species of ratite from the Miocene of China.[1]
Orientornis Temporal range: Miocene
Late | |
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Pelvis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Infraclass: | Palaeognathae |
Order: | Struthioniformes |
Family: | Struthionidae |
Genus: | †Orientornis Wang 2008 |
Type species | |
Orientornis linxiaensis (Hou et al. 2005) Wang 2008
| |
Synonyms | |
Struthio linxiaensis Hou et al. 2005[1] |
Remains 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]
Orientornis 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]