Graculavus

Graculavus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous-Paleogene, 68–62 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Genus: Graculavus
Marsh, 1872
Species
  • G. velox (Marsh, 1870) (type)
  • G. augustus Hope, 1999
Synonyms
  • Limnosavis Shufeldt, 1915

Graculavus is a prehistoric bird genus that was described in the 19th century by American paleontologist O. C. Marsh. Its remains were found in the Late Cretaceous Austin Chalk of Texas, USA, and Lance Formation (late Maastrichtian faunal stage, or Lancian land mammal age), and the controversial Hornerstown Formation which straddles the CretaceousPaleocene boundary, possibly dating to the Danian stage. These birds lived on the shores of the northwestern Atlantic and the Western Interior Seaway some 68 to 62 million years ago.