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Eleutherornithidae
Eleutherorniths
1
Number of resurrected species:
Family
Order
Class
Eleutherornithidae
Struthioniformes
Aves
Description
The Eleutherornithidae is a small and very poorly known family of early birds that lived during the Eocene and Oligocene epoch of Europe. In fact, the family is so poorly known, that the exact location within the family tree is uncertain. Scientists think they could be closely related to Ratites, Terror Birds or even Pelagornithids!
Distribution & Fossil evidence
Fossils of Eleutherorniths are scarce and very few of them have been found. Some parts of a pelvis and some bones from their legs tell that they might have had long legs and were therefore capable of fast running, like modern-day Seriemas or Ratites.
Species
Up until now, two species have been assigned to this family of poorly known birds. New discoveries of resembling species are needed to better understand this family.
Included genera
Eleutherornis
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