Vegavis

Vegavis
Temporal range: Maastrichtian
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Fossils displayed in Japan
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Vegaviidae
Genus: Vegavis
Clarke et al., 2005
Species:
V. iaai
Binomial name
Vegavis iaai
Clarke et al., 2005

Vegavis is a genus of extinct bird that lived in Antarctica during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. The type and only species is Vegavis iaai, representing one of the earliest known crown group birds. Initially described as member of Anseriformes within Galloanserae, the definitive taxonomic position of Vegavis was debated among paleontologists over two decades until the 2025 description of a nearly complete skull, discovered in 2011, supported its original classification.

  1. ^ Roberts, E. M.; O'Connor, P. M.; Clarke, J. A.; Slotznick, S. P.; Placzek, C. J.; Tobin, T. S.; Hannaford, C.; Orr, T.; Jinnah, Z. A.; Claeson, K. M.; Salisbury, S.; Kirschvink, J. L.; Pirrie, D.; Lamanna, M. C. (2022). "New age constraints support a K/Pg boundary interval on Vega Island, Antarctica: Implications for latest Cretaceous vertebrates and paleoenvironments". GSA Bulletin. 135 (3–4): 867–885. doi:10.1130/B36422.1. S2CID 250577048.

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