Copepteryx

Copepteryx
Temporal range: Late Oligocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Suliformes
Family: Plotopteridae
Genus: Copepteryx
Species
  • Copepteryx hexeris
  • Copepteryx titan

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

  1. "Copepteryx". paleodb.org. Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  2. Mayr, Gerald (2009). Paleogene Fossil Birds. Springer. p. 262. ISBN 3540896279.
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