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As the remains of ''Samrukia'' are fragmentary, it is not known with certainty its anatomical details. When it was thought to be a bird, two size estimates were brought up: a wingspan of about 4 meters (if it could fly) or a height of around 2 to 3 meters (if it was terrestrial).<ref>Darren Naish, Gareth Dyke, Andrea Cau, François Escuillié and Pascal Godefroit (2012). "A gigantic bird from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia". Biology Letters 8 (1): 97–100. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0683.</ref><ref>Naish, Darren (August 9, 2011). "Big birds in the Cretaceous of Central Asia: say hello to Samrukia". Tetrapod Zoology. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2011/08/09/say-hello-to-samrukia/. Retrieved August 9, 2011.</ref> |
As the remains of ''Samrukia'' are fragmentary, it is not known with certainty its anatomical details. When it was thought to be a bird, two size estimates were brought up: a wingspan of about 4 meters (if it could fly) or a height of around 2 to 3 meters (if it was terrestrial).<ref>Darren Naish, Gareth Dyke, Andrea Cau, François Escuillié and Pascal Godefroit (2012). "A gigantic bird from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia". Biology Letters 8 (1): 97–100. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0683.</ref><ref>Naish, Darren (August 9, 2011). "Big birds in the Cretaceous of Central Asia: say hello to Samrukia". Tetrapod Zoology. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2011/08/09/say-hello-to-samrukia/. Retrieved August 9, 2011.</ref> |
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==Classification and Discovery== |
==Classification and Discovery== |
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| − | At first, the single jaw was believed to come from an oviraptorosaur dinosaur, but it was then analyzed to be part of the bird lineage Ornithuromorpha. If ''Samrukia'' was a bird, if would be of the same size and stature as ''Gargantuavis'', a large, terrestrial bird from France.<ref>Buffetaut, E. & Le Loeuff, J. (1998). "A new giant ground Bird from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France." Journal of the Geological Society, 155: 1-4.</ref> The fossil was described as ''Samrukia nessovi'' by Darren Naish and Gareth Dyke in August 2011. |
+ | At first, the single jaw was believed to come from an oviraptorosaur dinosaur, but it was then analyzed to be part of the bird lineage Ornithuromorpha. If ''Samrukia'' was a bird, if would be of the same size and stature as ''[[wikipedia:Gargantuavis|Gargantuavis]]'', a large, terrestrial bird from France.<ref>Buffetaut, E. & Le Loeuff, J. (1998). "A new giant ground Bird from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France." Journal of the Geological Society, 155: 1-4.</ref> The fossil was described as ''Samrukia nessovi'' by Darren Naish and Gareth Dyke in August 2011. |
However, later that year its identification as a bird was challenged by Eric Buffetaut, who pointed out that the avian characteristics of ''Samrukia'' were also found on pterosaurs.<ref>Buffetaut, E. (in press). "Samrukia nessovi, from the Late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan: A large pterosaur, not a giant bird." Annales de Paléontologie, published online before print 10-NOV-2011. doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2011.10.001</ref> As a result, ''Samrukia'' is no longer considered a bird, although Naish has pointed out that it does not appear to be "just any old pterosaur."<ref>Naish, Darren (January 25, 2012). "Happy 6th Birthday, Tetrapod Zoology (part II)". Tetrapod Zoology. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2012/01/25/happy-6th-birthday-tetrapod-zoology-part-ii/. Retrieved February 22, 2012.</ref> |
However, later that year its identification as a bird was challenged by Eric Buffetaut, who pointed out that the avian characteristics of ''Samrukia'' were also found on pterosaurs.<ref>Buffetaut, E. (in press). "Samrukia nessovi, from the Late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan: A large pterosaur, not a giant bird." Annales de Paléontologie, published online before print 10-NOV-2011. doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2011.10.001</ref> As a result, ''Samrukia'' is no longer considered a bird, although Naish has pointed out that it does not appear to be "just any old pterosaur."<ref>Naish, Darren (January 25, 2012). "Happy 6th Birthday, Tetrapod Zoology (part II)". Tetrapod Zoology. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2012/01/25/happy-6th-birthday-tetrapod-zoology-part-ii/. Retrieved February 22, 2012.</ref> |
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Revision as of 21:58, 22 February 2012
Two interpretations of Samrukia as a bird
Samrukia was a large archosaur, possibly a pterosaur, that was originally thought to be one of the largest terrestrial birds in the Mesozoic. Its fossils were found in Cretaceous deposits in Kazakhstan.
Description
As the remains of Samrukia are fragmentary, it is not known with certainty its anatomical details. When it was thought to be a bird, two size estimates were brought up: a wingspan of about 4 meters (if it could fly) or a height of around 2 to 3 meters (if it was terrestrial).[1][2]
Classification and Discovery
At first, the single jaw was believed to come from an oviraptorosaur dinosaur, but it was then analyzed to be part of the bird lineage Ornithuromorpha. If Samrukia was a bird, if would be of the same size and stature as Gargantuavis, a large, terrestrial bird from France.[3] The fossil was described as Samrukia nessovi by Darren Naish and Gareth Dyke in August 2011.
However, later that year its identification as a bird was challenged by Eric Buffetaut, who pointed out that the avian characteristics of Samrukia were also found on pterosaurs.[4] As a result, Samrukia is no longer considered a bird, although Naish has pointed out that it does not appear to be "just any old pterosaur."[5]
References
- ↑ Darren Naish, Gareth Dyke, Andrea Cau, François Escuillié and Pascal Godefroit (2012). "A gigantic bird from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia". Biology Letters 8 (1): 97–100. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0683.
- ↑ Naish, Darren (August 9, 2011). "Big birds in the Cretaceous of Central Asia: say hello to Samrukia". Tetrapod Zoology. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2011/08/09/say-hello-to-samrukia/. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Buffetaut, E. & Le Loeuff, J. (1998). "A new giant ground Bird from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France." Journal of the Geological Society, 155: 1-4.
- ↑ Buffetaut, E. (in press). "Samrukia nessovi, from the Late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan: A large pterosaur, not a giant bird." Annales de Paléontologie, published online before print 10-NOV-2011. doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2011.10.001
- ↑ Naish, Darren (January 25, 2012). "Happy 6th Birthday, Tetrapod Zoology (part II)". Tetrapod Zoology. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/2012/01/25/happy-6th-birthday-tetrapod-zoology-part-ii/. Retrieved February 22, 2012.