Bullockornis

Bullockornis Temporal range: Middle Miocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Bullockornis statues, Kings Park, Western Australia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	†Dromornithidae
Genus:	Bullockornis P. Rich, 1979
Species:	B. planei
Binomial name
Bullockornis planei P. Rich, 1979

Bullockornis, nicknamed the Demon Duck of Doom, is an extinct flightless bird that appeared to have lived in the Middle Miocene, approximately 15 million years ago, in what is now Australia.

Bullockornis stood approximately 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) tall. It may have weighed up to 250 kg (550 lb). Features of Bullockornis's skull, including a very large beak suited to shearing, indicate that the bird may have been carnivorous. The bird's skull is larger than that of many small horses.^[1] Many paleontologists, including Peter Murray of the Central Australian Museum, believe that Bullockornis was related to geese and ducks. This, in addition to the bird's tremendous size and possible carnivorous habits, gave rise to its colourful nickname. The bird's generic name is translated as "ox-bird."^[1]

See also

• Australian megafauna
• Dromornithidae
• History of Australia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ellis, Richard (2004). No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species. New York: Harper Perennial. p. 102. ISBN 0-06-055804-0. 

• Rich, P. (1979): The Dromornithidae, an extinct family of large ground birds endemic to Australia. Bureau of National Resources, Geology and Geophysics Bulletin 184: 1–196.

External links

• Australia's Lost Kingdoms - Late Miocene period - Big Birds
• The Bird from Hell?
• 'Thunder Birds' - The Family Dromornithidae
• Giant duck a flesh eater

Paleontology portal