Ichthyornis

Ichthyornis - drawing by Othniel Charles Marsh

• Middle North America

Ichthyornis (. Ἰχθύς from AltGr fish and bird ὄρνις ) is an extinct genus of sea birds of the Upper Cretaceous of North America.

The fossil remains were found in deposits from the Turonian and middle Campanian in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Alabama, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. Other fossils from Argentina and Central Asia are sometimes also included in this taxon.

Ichthyornis lived at the flat sea, the Western Interior Seaway, which ran through the Cretaceous North America from north to south. It is believed that Ichthyornis had a way of life in accordance with the present gulls and petrels. Ichthyornis combines both primitive and modern features birds. For example, his jaws were covered with numerous small teeth, but sternum and wings were modern, which is why it is assumed a good flight ability.

Ichthyornis was discovered in 1870. Othniel Charles Marsh's monograph from 1880 on Odontornithes is still the most important treatise on this bird. Of the various scientifically described species, after a revised edition of 2004 only one, Ichthyornis dispar recognized.