Name: Aviraptor
(bird thief).
Phonetic: A-ve-rap-tor.
Named By: Gerald Mayr & J�rn H.Hurum -
2020.
Classification: Chordata, Aves,
Accipitriformes, Accipitridae.
Species: A. vlongicrus
(type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Uncertain but noted to be comparable to some
of the smallest hawks alive today.
Known locations: Poland.
Time period: Oligocene.
Fossil representation: Partially preserved but
almost complete individual.
Aviraptor
is a genus of hawk that lived in Eastern Europe during the Oligocene
period. Aviraptor is one of the smallest fossil
hawks discovered
being approximately comparable to the modern day little sparrowhawk
(Accipiter minullus), and the Tiny hawk (Accipiter
superciliosus). As a small hawk, Aviraptor
would have primarily
been a predator of small birds, though other small creature such as
bats, lizards and rodents may have also been hunted. This is
certainly true at least for modern day hawks of similar size and build
to Aviraptor.
Further reading
- A tiny, long-legged raptor from the early Oligocene of Poland may
be the earliest bird-eating diurnal bird of prey". The Science of
Nature. 107 (6): 48. - Gerald Mayr & J�rn
H.Hurum - 2020.