Copepteryx

Copepteryx is an extinct genus of flightless bird of the family Plotopteridae, endemic to Japan during the Oligocene living from 28.4—23 mya, meaning it existed for approximately 5.4 million years.[1]

Copepteryx
Temporal range: Late Oligocene
Fossil sternum from Kitahata Karatsu, Japan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Suliformes
Family: †Plotopteridae
Genus: †Copepteryx
Olson & Hasegawa, 1996
Species
  • Copepteryx hexeris
  • Copepteryx titan

Taxonomy
Restoration of Copepteryx hexeris

Copepteryx was named by Olson and Hasegawa in 1996. Its type is Copepteryx hexeris. It was assigned to Plotopteridae by Olson and Hasegawa in 1996.

The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words Kope and pteryx meaning oar wing. The apparent reference to the 19th Century Paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope is accidental.

Copepteryx was a diving plotopterid bird which is similar to the Waimanu.[2]

Description

The bird was a land dwelling carnivorous bird.[3]

gollark: It's actually muted.
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gollark: It doesn't have OIR:EM links yet.
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gollark: ++radio connect

References
  1. "Copepteryx". paleodb.org. Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  2. Mayr, Gerald (2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer. p. 262. ISBN 3540896279.
  3. "Copepteryx hexeris Olson and Hasegawa 1996 (bird)". Fossilworks.
  • Biology of Marine Birds (Marine Biology) by E. A. Schreiber and Joanna Burger
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