Graculavus fossil map
Where fossils of Graculavus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 66 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 66 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 | 72.2–61.66 million years ago (Maastrichtian to Danian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous, Paleogene |
| Named by | Marsh 1872 |
| Fossil records | 3 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Hornerstown, Lance |
About Graculavus
Graculavus is a prehistoric bird genus that was described in the 19th century by American paleontologist O. C. Marsh. Its remains were found in the Late Cretaceous Austin Chalk of Texas, USA, and Lance Formation (late Maastrichtian faunal stage, or Lancian land mammal age), and the controversial Hornerstown Formation which straddles the Cretaceous–Paleocene boundary, possibly dating to the Danian stage. These birds lived on the shores of the northwestern Atlantic and the Western Interior Seaway some 68 to 62 million years ago.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Graculavus (revision 1299912066), 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: Q5591662.
