Palaeotis

Taxobox
name = "Palaeotis"
status = fossil
fossil_range = Middle Eocene
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Struthioniformes [ [http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=39277 The Paleobiology Database ] ]
familia = Struthionidae
genus = "Palaeotis"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "P. weigelti"

Palaeotis is a palaeognath bird from the Eocene epoch. Originally, it was thought to be a bustard, hence its name ("Palaeotis" means "ancient bustard") Nowadays, it is generally thought to be a relative of the ostrich. It has even been classified in the same family. Other scientists are less convinced and classify it as a more basal ratite. It may be related to the mysterious "Remiornis", a putative ratite known from the Eocene of France.

References