Leptoptilos patagonicus
Extinct species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leptoptilos patagonicus is an extinct species of large-bodied stork that existed during the Late Miocene. Fossils of the species were discovered in the San Madryn Formation in Chubut Province, Argentina.[1] L. patagonicus is the first fossil record discovery of a member of Leptoptilos in South America[2] and the only one found so far in the New World.[3]
| Leptoptilos patagonicus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Ciconiiformes |
| Family: | Ciconiidae |
| Genus: | Leptoptilos |
| Species: | †L. patagonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Leptoptilos patagonicus Noriega & Cladera, 2008 | |
Description
In comparison with extant Leptoptilos, L. patagonicus is larger than L. javanicus and similar in size to the largest members of L. dubius and L. crumenifer.[4] In comparison with extant Leptoptilos, the hindlimbs are larger than the forelimbs, resulting in shorter wings relative to extant Leptoptilos, a characteristic shared by the extinct Leptoptilos falconeri.[4] L. patagonicus is smaller than L. falconeri.[4]
The humerus and ulna are shorter than those of L. dubius and L. crumenifer.[5] The tibiotarsus is shorter than that of L. falconeri, but slighter longer than those usually found in L. dubius and L. crumenifer.[5]
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