| Hesperornis Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
|---|---|
| |
| Jaime Chirinos' illustration of Hesperornis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukarya |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Family: | Hesperornithidae |
| Genus: | †Hesperornis Othniel Charles Marsh, 1871 |
| Species: |
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| Type species | |
| †H. regalis Charles Marsh, 1871 | |
Hesperornis (Western Bird) is an extinct genus of large toothy, flightless, seabird from the Late Cretaceous. Its lifestyle was highly similar to that of a penguin's, a flightless cormorant from the Galápagos Islands, or a loon.
Description[]
Hesperornis was a noticeably larger genus of prehistoric bird, and a one-of-a-kind species of aquatic dinosaur, reaching up to 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) in length and it was weighed around 125-141 kg (275.57-310.85 lb). Based on fossil evidence, it has been reconstructed as a semi-aquatic bird that fed on aquatic prey, likely with a diet consisting of mostly fish and squid.
Unlike most modern seabirds, skin impressions show that Hesperornis did not have webbed feet. Instead each of its toes were shaped like a paddle. The outer toe was the largest and the two other toes were smaller. Despite the differences from modern sea birds, these feet still would’ve made Hesperornis an effective swimmer.
Another major difference from modern seabirds is that Hesperornis almost completely lacked wings. The wings were tiny bones that lacked fingers. Hesperornis’s wings would have been tiny, if it did indeed have them. Because of the wing bones tiny size, so reconstructions show it with no wings at all, similar to modern whales who’s legs have completely disappeared despite having the bones hidden in their body.
History[]
The first Hesperornis specimen was discovered in 1871 by Othniel Charles Marsh.
Paleoecology[]
Hesperornis lived in the western interior seaway where it would have coexisted with Pterosaurs such as Pteranodon and Nyctosaurus. In the water it would have coexisted with other primarily fish eating reptiles such as Elasmosaurus and the giant turtle archelon. Hesperornis would’ve likely been prey for predatory mosasaurs such as Mosasaurus and Tylosaurus, along with predatory fish like Cretoxyrhina,
In the Media[]
- Hesperornis appeared in The 3rd chapter episode of Chased By Sea Monsters AKA Sea Monsters: A Walking with Dinosaurs Trilogy.
- It also appeared in National Geographic's Sea Monsters A Prehistoric Adventure as well as the game spinoff.
- It even appeared in the BBC series Primeval.
- It also appeared on some episodes of Dinosaur Train and there is 1 Hesperornis who lives near The Big Pond named Jess.
- Hesperornis appeared in ARK: Survival Evolved.
- Hesperornis make an appearance in the second season of Prehistoric Planet.
Other Wikis[]
- https://prehistoric-wiki.fandom.com/wiki/Hesperornis
- https://jurassic-park-institute.fandom.com/wiki/Hesperornis
Gallery[]
References[]
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/Hesperornis
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/facts/hesperornis
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/hesperornis/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235963010_Cretaceous_foot-propelled_bird_Hesperornis_its_own_way
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232680251_Rediscovery_of_the_Hesperornis_regalis_Marsh_1871_Holotype_Locality_Indicates_an_Earlier_Stratigraphic_Occurrence
- https://www.nature.com/articles/043176a0
- https://www.mindat.org/taxon-P96488.html