Ilbandornis Temporal range: Late Miocene
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Superorder: | Galloanserae |
Family: | †Dromornithidae |
Genus: | †Ilbandornis Rich, 1979 |
Type species | |
†Ilbandornis woodburnei Rich, 1979
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Other species | |
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Ilbandornis was a genus of ostrich-sized dromornithid, a clade known casually as "demon ducks" because they are most closely related to the water fowl clade anseriformes. It was far more lightly built than other members of the family, indicating a more cursorial lifestyle; it was a fast runner. The majority of researchers consider Dromornithids to be herbivorous; this is borne out by molecular analysis of the gastroliths and eggshells of both Ilbandornis and the related Genyornis.[citation needed] While Ilbandornis and Genyornis have skulls of similar size to emus, other Dromornithids such as Dromornis have far more robust skulls with large beaks; these were previously considered an adaptation for carnivory, but their blunt edges and lack of hooked tip indicate that the species were herbivorous. It is therefore likely that the differences in skull shape are due to differences in diet.[citation needed] Ilbandornis went extinct sometime in the Miocene epoch.[citation needed]