Cyrilavis
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| Cyrilavis Temporal range: Early Eocene, | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skull of C. colburnorum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | †Halcyornithiformes |
| Family: | †Halcyornithidae |
| Genus: | †Cyrilavis Martin, 2010 |
| Type species | |
| †Primobucco olsoni (Feduccia & Martin, 1976) | |
Cyrilavis is an extinct genus of halcyornithid bird from the Early Eocene Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation, United States. The genus contains two species, Cyrilavis olsoni and Cyrilavis colburnorum.[1]
A complete skeleton of a bird from the Green River Formation was described as "Primobucco" olsoni in 1976 from the specimens GSATC 217 as a relative to the Bucconidae based on its zygodactyl foot configuration. The specific ephitet olsoni referred to Storrs L. Olson.[1][2] In 2002, the specimen was recognised as having psittacine affinities by Mayr.[3] In 2010 the genus Cyrilavis was erected to accomdoate the halcyornithid, since it was no longer thought to be closely related to the Bucconidae, with the new name Cyrilavis olsoni. The generic name Cyrilavis is in honour of Cyril Walker, a notable paleontologist of early Cenozoic birds.[4] In 2011, Ksepka et al. described a new species, Cyrilavis colburnorum, with the holotype FMNH PA 754, a nearly complete skeleton. Another specimen of C. colburnorum, FMNH PA 766, preserved both feet and much of the legs and wings. A third specimen is not referred to either species.[1]