Heliadornis fossil map
Where fossils of Heliadornis have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 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 15 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 | 15.98–11.63 million years ago (Langhian to Serravallian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Phaethontidae |
| Named by | Olson 1985 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 2 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Belgium |
| Rock formations | Calvert, Sables d'Anvers |
About Heliadornis
Heliadornis is a genus of prehistoric seabirds related to modern tropicbirds, but native to temperate climates. They lived in the Miocene. Two species have been recognized. Heliadornis ashbyi is known from remains in Maryland in the United States and Antwerp province in Belgium. The latter were from the Brussels–Antwerp motorway between Berchem and Wilrijk. A second species, Heliadornis paratethydicus has been described from Upper Miocene strata in Vösendorf, Austria.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Heliadornis (revision 1380576703), 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: Q30693740.
