| Ceramornis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Clade: | Avialae |
| Family: | †Cimolopterygidae |
| Genus: | †Ceramornis Brodkorb, 1963 |
| Species: | †C. major |
| Binomial name | |
| †Ceramornis major Brodkorb, 1963 | |
Ceramornis is agenus ofornithurandinosaurs from theLate Cretaceous. It lived shortly before theCretaceous–Paleogene extinction event in theMaastrichtian, some66 million years ago (mya).[1] Its remains were found in the Lull 2 location, aLance Formation site inNiobrara County, Wyoming. A singlespecies is known,Ceramornis major, and even that only from aproximal piece ofcoracoid. This is specimenUCMP V53957, which was collected by aUniversity of California team in 1958.[2]
Ceramornis has been placed in the familyCimolopterygidae together withCimolopteryx andLamarqueavis. Cimolopterygidae has sometimes been placed in the modern bird orderCharadriiformes, based on quantitative analysis of itscoracoid and comparison with other modern bird samples.[3][4] However, there remains some uncertainty about the taxonomic position, as there is insufficient fossil material to be assessed by wide-scalecladistic analysis.[5]
It is not certain that Charadriiformes was already distinct by the Maastrichtian.[1]
.jpg)
