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Ilbandornis

Ilbandornis
Temporal range: Late Miocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Superorder: Galloanserae
Family: Dromornithidae
Genus: Ilbandornis
Rich, 1979
Type species
Ilbandornis woodburnei
Rich, 1979
Other species
  • I.? lawsoni
    Rich, 1979

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]


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