Zealandornis

Zealandornis Temporal range: Early Miocene, 19–16 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Holotype humerus in cranial (A), caudal (B), dorsal (C), and ventral (D) views
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Family:	†Zealandornithidae Worthy et al., 2022
Genus:	†Zealandornis Worthy et al., 2022
Species:	†Z. relictus
Binomial name
†Zealandornis relictus Worthy et al., 2022

Zealandornis (meaning "Zealandia bird") is an extinct genus of zealandornithid bird from the early Miocene Bannockburn Formation of Otago, New Zealand. The genus contains a single species, Zealandornis relictus, known from a distal right humerus.[1]

Discovery and naming

The Zealandornis holotype specimen, NMNZ S.52077, was discovered on the east bank of the Manuherikia River in a lower layer of the Bannockburn Formation in the Manuherikia Group, near St Bathans, Otago, New Zealand.[1]

In 2022, Worthy et al. described Zealandornis relictus, a new extinct genus and species of bird. The generic name, "Zealandornis", combines a reference to the taxon's origin from Zealandia with the Greek "ὄρνις (ornis)", meaning "bird". The specific name, "relictus", refers to something that is "remaining" or "left behind".[1]

Classification

Zealandornis is a member of the monotypic family Zealandornithidae. This clade, erected with the description of Zealandornis, was likely a member of the Telluraves, with similarities to the Coliiformes.[1]

References

1. Worthy, Trevor H.; Scofield, R. Paul; Salisbury, Steven W.; Hand, Suzanne J.; De Pietri, Vanesa L.; Archer, Michael (2022-04-05). "Two new neoavian taxa with contrasting palaeobiogeographical implications from the early Miocene St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand". Journal of Ornithology. 163 (3): 643–658. doi:10.1007/s10336-022-01981-6. ISSN 2193-7192. S2CID 247993690.