Page 41 - Prehistoric Animals
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Die-A-Trama







                                               Diatryma




                                              Gastornis* is an extinct genus of
                                       large  flightless  birds  that  lived  during
                                       the mid Paleocene to mid Eocene, 40 to
                                       50 million years ago. Fossils of the bird
                                       have  been  found  in  Europe,  Asia,  and
                                       North  America.  Several  species  have
                                       been identified, the largest, of which is,
                                       Gastornis  gigantea.  It  stood  about  7ft
                                       tall, and weighed in around, 170 kg.

                                              Gastornis  had  very  small  wings,
                                       but  a  large  head  with  an  equally  large
                                       beak. Its legs, although short, were strong and sturdy and it had large
                                       feet equipped with sharp, but small, talons. Its plumage is not known.
                                       However, a Fossil found in Roan Creek, Colorado did have some mate-
                                       rial attached that seemed to be feathers. This material was later found
                                       to be vegetation that was simply attached to the fossil.

                                              Over the years Gastornis has proven a bit of a conundrum.  With
                                       the structure of its body it was first thought it belonged in the group
                                       (Gruiformes) that contains cranes, bustards and rails. Later on it was
                                       put forward that it may belong to the group, (Galloanserae)  fowls, that
                                       contains chickens and all kinds of waterfowl.

                                              If grouping Gastornis wasn’t enough, what it ate has proven even
                                       more contentious. Was it Carnivore, Herbivore or Omnivorous? Some
                                       claim it was definitely a Carnivore, pointing to its large beak and sharp
                                       talons and the fact that its powerful legs could easily keep-up and catch-
                                       ing the fastest of small mammals. Some however, disagree, Gastornis
                                       beak  is  blunt;  it  does  not  have  the  downward  sharp  point  needed  by
                                       carnivores to rip at flesh. They also claim that its talons are too short
                                       and  are  more  suited  for  scraping,  not  grasping  its  prey.  They  believe
                                       Gastornis was an herbivore, living on vegetation. Others believe Gastor-
                                       nis was suited to living on both vegetation and meat and was Omniv-
                                       orous.

                                              Although fossils of Gastornis are still being unearthed, one ap-
                                       pears to have feathers, there is still a great deal to be learnt about this
                                       flightless  bird.  Even  its  disappearance  cannot  be  explained.  Why  and
                                       when this very adaptable bird went extinct is a total mystery.


                                              *After extensive study both the genus Gastornis and genus Diatryma were found to be
                                       of the same species. Under the rule that states the first named takes precedence. Gastornis
                                       first named in 1855 is the now the designated name for all species of the genus Diatryma; first
                                       named by Edward Drinker Cope in 1876.
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