Leptoptilos lüi Temporal range:
Middle Pleistocene,
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Ciconiiformes |
Family: | Ciconiidae |
Genus: | Leptoptilos |
Species: | L. lüi
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Binomial name | |
Leptoptilos lüi Zhang et al., 2012
|
Leptoptilos lüi is an extinct species of large-bodied Leptoptilini stork that existed during the Middle Pleistocene. Along with Aegypius jinniushanensis, L. lüi is one of several new species of extinct birds discovered at Jinniushan, Liaoning, China. [1] The extinct stork is named after Professor Zun-e Lü. [2]
Extant members of the genus Leptoptilos are today found only found in the African and Asian tropics. [3] L. lüi is the only member of Leptoptilos from the Pleistocene so far to have been discovered outside of its modern range. [3]
L. lüi is one of the largest Leptoptilos on record and might be larger than Leptoptilos titan and Leptoptilos robustus. [a] [4] The humerus and proximal phalanx are longer and more robust than those of any other Leptoptilos on record. [2]
With very long wings, L. lüi was probably a good flyer that mainly relied on gliding and soaring on the thermal air currents available then, as the climate conditions in the region during the Middle Pleistocene was a lot warmer and more humid. [3] L. lüi most likely relied on scavenging from Pleistocene megafauna for the bulk of its food source. [3] The disappearance of Pleistocene megafauna and climate change are likely the primary causes of its extinction. [3]
Leptoptilos lüi Temporal range:
Middle Pleistocene,
| |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Ciconiiformes |
Family: | Ciconiidae |
Genus: | Leptoptilos |
Species: | L. lüi
|
Binomial name | |
Leptoptilos lüi Zhang et al., 2012
|
Leptoptilos lüi is an extinct species of large-bodied Leptoptilini stork that existed during the Middle Pleistocene. Along with Aegypius jinniushanensis, L. lüi is one of several new species of extinct birds discovered at Jinniushan, Liaoning, China. [1] The extinct stork is named after Professor Zun-e Lü. [2]
Extant members of the genus Leptoptilos are today found only found in the African and Asian tropics. [3] L. lüi is the only member of Leptoptilos from the Pleistocene so far to have been discovered outside of its modern range. [3]
L. lüi is one of the largest Leptoptilos on record and might be larger than Leptoptilos titan and Leptoptilos robustus. [a] [4] The humerus and proximal phalanx are longer and more robust than those of any other Leptoptilos on record. [2]
With very long wings, L. lüi was probably a good flyer that mainly relied on gliding and soaring on the thermal air currents available then, as the climate conditions in the region during the Middle Pleistocene was a lot warmer and more humid. [3] L. lüi most likely relied on scavenging from Pleistocene megafauna for the bulk of its food source. [3] The disappearance of Pleistocene megafauna and climate change are likely the primary causes of its extinction. [3]