Dasornis emuinus
Dasornis emuinus
Summary
Dasornis emuinus was a very large pelagornithid, one of the extinct pseudotoothed seabirds whose beaks carried bony tooth like projections rather than true teeth. Its size and wing construction identify it as a powerful marine flier that ranged over the early Eocene sea.
The pseudoteeth were suited to gripping slippery prey and the bird probably fed mainly on fish and cephalopods taken near the water surface. Exactly how it captured prey is inferred from pelagornithid anatomy, but an oceanic or coastal soaring lifestyle is strongly supported by the broader group. The London Clay species is known from substantial but incomplete skeletal material rather than a complete articulated bird.
Quick Identification
Look for: very large pelagornithid skull or jaw fragments with regular bony pseudoteeth, or exceptionally large thin walled wing bones with diagnostic joint ends. Large shaft fragments alone cannot safely be named to Dasornis emuinus.
Diagnostic Features
- The jaws bear solid bony pseudoteeth that are extensions of the jaw margin, not true teeth in sockets.
- The species belongs to the very large size class of early Eocene pelagornithids.
- The skull and jaw architecture is characteristic of Dasornis and other giant pseudotoothed birds.
- The wing bones are elongated and lightly constructed for a very large volant seabird.
- Species level identification of isolated postcranial elements requires direct comparison because Walton material is often only referred as Dasornis cf. emuinus.