| Songzia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Holotype (IVPP V18188) ofS. acutunguis,Paleozoological Museum of China | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Gruiformes |
| Family: | †Songziidae Hou, 1990 |
| Genus: | †Songzia Hou, 1990 |
| Type species | |
| Songzia heidangkouensis Hou, 1990 | |
| Species | |
| |
Songzia is an extinctgenus ofgruiformbird related torails. It lived in theEocene epoch. Though many families traditionally assigned to theGruiformes do not seem to actually belong there, this is apparently not the case with this animal. Itsfossils have been found inSongzi county (Hubei ProvincePeople's Republic of China).[1]
Twospecies are known and have been namedSongzia heidangkouensis[1] andSongzia acutunguis.[2] The genus andfamily names for the type species were originally first published in a newsletter, and only subsequently in ascientific journal to fulfill theICZN's requirements valid newscientific names. As such, they were considerednomina nuda until the journal article was published for validation of the taxonomic acts.[2] An additional fossil found in theDriftwood siteavifauna of theEocene Okanagan Highlands was tentatively referred the to family,[3] as has a fossil from thePaleoceneMenat Formation[4]
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