Opisthodactylus

O-pis-fo-dak-te-lus.
Published on

Maeve Foster

Paleoclimatologist

Maeve Foster explores the Earth's climatic past to understand the forces that shaped life on our planet. Her research into ancient climate events provides valuable context for current environmental challenges.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Opisthodactylus.

Phonetic

O-pis-fo-dak-te-lus.

Named By

Ameghino‭ ‬-‭ ‬1891.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Aves,‭ ‬Rheiformes,‭ ‬Rheidae.

Diet

Omnivore‭?

Species

O.‭ ‬patagonicus‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

Argentina‭ ‬-‭ ‬Santa Cruz Formation.

Time Period

Miocene.

Fossil representation

Partial remains.

In Depth

       Opisthodactylus is an extinct genus of rhea‭ (‬a type of flightless bird similar to an emu‭) ‬that lived in South America during the Miocene.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬New fossil bird remains from the Chichinales Formation‭ (‬Early Miocene‭) ‬of northern Patagonia,‭ ‬Argentina.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Annales de Pal�ontologie.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Federico L.‭ ‬Agnolin‭ & ‬Pablo Chafrat‭ ‬-‭ ‬2015.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT