Leptoptilos lüi
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]
| Leptoptilos lüi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Ciconiiformes |
| Family: | Ciconiidae |
| Genus: | Leptoptilos |
| Species: | L. lüi |
| Binomial name | |
| Leptoptilos lüi Zhang et al., 2012 | |
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]
Description
L. lüi is one of the largest Leptoptilos on record and might be larger than Leptoptilos titan and Leptoptilos robustus.[lower-alpha 1][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]
Notes
- Insufficient overlapping elements for a full comparison
References
- Zhang et al. 2012, p. 700.
- Zhang et al. 2012, p. 701.
- Zhang et al. 2012, p. 705.
- Zhang et al. 2012, p. 702.
Bibliography
- Zhang, Zihui; Huang, Yunping; James, Helen F.; Hou, Lianhai (2012). "A Marabou (Ciconiidae: Leptoptilos) from the Middle Pleistocene of Northeastern China". The Auk. 129 (4): 699–706. doi:10.1525/auk.2012.11227. S2CID 55170353.