Dasornis fossil map
Where fossils of Dasornis have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 56 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 56 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Prehistoric birds |
|---|---|
| Lived | 61.66–33.9 million years ago (Selandian to Priabonian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Pelagornithidae |
| Named by | Owen 1870 |
| Fossil records | 24 occurrences at 13 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United Kingdom, Morocco, United States, Belgium, Mexico, Ukraine |
| Rock formations | London Clay, txn:39658, Keasey, Tepetate, Nanjemoy, Buchak |
About Dasornis
Dasornis is a genus of prehistoric pseudotooth birds. These were probably close relatives of either pelicans and storks or waterfowl; they are placed in the order Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.
Almost all known material of this bird is from some 50 million years ago (Ma) and has been recovered from the Ypresian (Early Eocene) London Clay of the Isle of Sheppey (England). The exception are a few approximately 45 Ma-old remains from the Lutetian (Middle Eocene, MP11-13) of Etterbeek (Belgium) that are only tentatively included here, and some even more conjectural remains from outside Europe (see below).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Dasornis (revision 1354737886), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q16991804.
