Copepteryx
| Copepteryx Temporal range: Late Oligocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | Plotopteridae |
| Genus: | Copepteryx |
| Species | |
| |
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]
The name is derived from the Greek words "Kope 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]
Taxonomy
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.
References
- ↑ "Copepteryx". paleodb.org. Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ↑ Mayr, Gerald (2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer. p. 262. ISBN 3540896279.
- Biology of Marine Birds (Marine Biology) by E. A. Schreiber and Joanna Burger
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