Klallamornis fossil map
Where fossils of Klallamornis have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 30 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 30 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 | 33.9–23.04 million years ago (Rupelian to Chattian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Plotopteridae |
| Named by | Mayr and Goedert 2016 |
| Fossil records | 9 occurrences at 8 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Makah, Pysht, Lincoln Creek |
About Klallamornis
Klallamornis is an extinct genus of Plotopteridae, a family of large, flightless birds related to modern cormorants, darters, gannets, and boobies. This genus included the largest North American plotopterids. Its remains can be found in Late Eocene to Late Oligocene rocks from the Makah Formation, the overlying Pysht Formation and the Lincoln Creek Formation of the State of Washington. During its existence, Klallamornis was the largest plotopterid on the North American continent. The first fossil remains attributed to the taxon were collected in 1983, although the genus was not described until 2016.
Klallamornis was a large pelagic seabird. Despite being unable to fly, its wings were heavily built and muscular, a consequence of wing-propelled diving adaptations. It was superficially similar with modern penguins, despite being only distantly related to them.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Klallamornis (revision 1380012863), 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: Q120176675.
