Caspiodontornis
Encyclopedia
Caspiodontornis is a doubtfully valid genus
of the prehistoric pseudotooth birds of somewhat doubtful validity. These were probably rather close relatives of either pelican
s and stork
s, or of waterfowl
, and are here placed in the order
Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.
Only a single species
, Caspiodontornis kobystanicus, is known to date. Its remains – a fairly complete skull and beak
– were found in early Late Oligocene (Chattian, MP25-30
) rocks at Pirəkəşkül (Azerbaijan
). From the same deposits the supposed giant swan
Guguschia nailiae was described earlier; it is only known from wing bones. The affiliation of G. nailiae is not known but it does not seem to be a swan; the size of its remains agrees sufficiently well with those of C. kobystanicus to indicate that they may be from a single species, to which the older name G. nailiae would apply.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the prehistoric pseudotooth birds of somewhat doubtful validity. These were probably rather close relatives of either pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s and stork
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
s, or of waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
, and are here placed in the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.
Only a single species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, Caspiodontornis kobystanicus, is known to date. Its remains – a fairly complete skull and beak
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
– were found in early Late Oligocene (Chattian, MP25-30
Mammal Paleogene zone
The Mammal Paleogene zones or MP zones are biostratigraphic zones in the stratigraphic record of the Paleogene period of Europe. These zones were developed by Matthijs Freudenthal to help paleontologists provide more specific reference points to evolutionary events in Europe, but are used by...
) rocks at Pirəkəşkül (Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
). From the same deposits the supposed giant swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
Guguschia nailiae was described earlier; it is only known from wing bones. The affiliation of G. nailiae is not known but it does not seem to be a swan; the size of its remains agrees sufficiently well with those of C. kobystanicus to indicate that they may be from a single species, to which the older name G. nailiae would apply.