Phasmagyps

Name: Phasmagyps.
Phonetic: Fas-mah-jips.
Named By: Alexander Wetmore‭ ‬-‭ ‬1927.
Classification: Chordata,‭ ‬Aves,‭ ‬Cathartiformes,‭ ‬Cathartidae.
Species: P.‭ ‬patritus‭ (‬type‭)‬.
Diet: Carnivore‭?
Size: Uncertain due to lack of remains and conflicting opinions.‭ ‬If similar in size to a modern day black vulture‭ (‬Coragyps atratus‭)‬,‭ ‬then the wingspan would be approximately‭ ‬1.5‭ ‬meters across,‭ ‬if a third larger like others have suggested then the wingspan would approach‭ ‬2‭ ‬meters across.
Known locations: USA,‭ ‬Colorado‭ ‬-‭ ‬Chadron Formation.
Time period: Priabonian of the Eocene.
Fossil representation: Lower right of a Tibiotarsus‭ (‬one of the leg bones‭)‬.

       Phasmagyps is usually credited as being possibly the oldest member of the Cathartidae group of birds,‭ ‬better known as the New World Vultures.‭ ‬However because this genus is so far only represented by a partial leg bone,‭ ‬some researchers have questioned if it actually is a vulture.‭ ‬Additionally the genus is sometimes considered dubious because the overall lack of remains for the holotype will make it very difficult to assign new fossils to.

Further reading
-‭ ‬Fossil Birds from the Oligocene of Colorado.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History‭ ‬7‭ (‬2‭)‬:‭ ‬1‭–‬14.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Alexander Wetmore‭ ‬-‭ ‬1927.
-‭ ‬Fossil Birds of the Nebraska Region.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies XIX:‭ ‬83‭–‬96.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬Ducey‭ ‬-‭ ‬1992.



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