Lithornis fossil map
Where fossils of Lithornis 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 | 60.9–48.07 million years ago (Selandian to Ypresian) |
| Periods | Paleogene |
| Family | Lithornithidae |
| Named by | Owen 1841 |
| Fossil records | 13 occurrences at 10 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United Kingdom, United States, Denmark |
| Rock formations | London Clay, Fur, Willwood, Fort Union, Goler, Upnor |
About Lithornis
Lithornis is a genus of extinct paleognathous birds. Although Lithornis was able to fly well, their closest relatives are the extant tinamous (which are poor flyers) and ratites (which are flightless birds).
Fossils of Lithornis are known with certainty from the Upper Paleocene through the Middle Eocene, but their fossil record may extend to the late Cretaceous. Lithornis is from ancient Greek for 'stone bird', as it is one of the first fossil birds to become widely discussed. Presumably closely related genera are Paracathartes and Pseudocrypturus. Some researchers consider Calciavis as a species of Lithornis (L. grandei).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Lithornis (revision 1335981157), 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: Q6648154.
