| Megavitiornis Temporal range: Holocene
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Family: | †Sylviornithidae |
| Genus: | †Megavitiornis |
| Species: | †M. altirostris
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Megavitiornis altirostris | |
Megavitiornis altirostris is an extinct, flightless, giant stem-galliform bird that was endemic to Fiji, it is the only known species in the genus Megavitiornis. Originally thought to be a megapode, more recent morphological studies indicate a close relationship with Sylviornis of New Caledonia, with both genera belonging to the family Sylviornithidae outside of the Galliformes crown group.[2] It is likely that it became extinct through overhunting shortly after the colonisation of the Fiji Islands by humans.[1]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
worthywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Worthy, T., Mitri, M., Handley, W., Lee, M., Anderson, A., Sand, C. 2016. Osteology supports a steam-galliform affinity for the giant extinct flightless birds Sylviornis neocaledoniae (Sylviornithidae, Galloanseres). PLOS ONE. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150871