Aizenogyps
| Aizenogyps | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Cathartidae |
| Genus: | †Aizenogyps Emslie, 1998 |
| Species: | †A. toomeyae |
| Binomial name | |
| †Aizenogyps toomeyae Emslie, 1998 | |
Aizenogyps is an extinct genus of new world vulture from the latest Pliocene of Florida.
History and naming
[edit]The fossils of Aizenogyps have been recovered from Lates Pliocene (Blancan) deposits at Haile 7C, a fossil locality in Alachua County, Florida. The genus was established by Steven D. Emslie in 1998 based on a complete left tarsometatarsus, though a number of other remains not found in association with the type specimen, namely fifteen neck vertebrae, the third vertebra of the torso and a left upper arm bone were referred to the taxon as paratypes.[1]
The name Aizenogygps derives from the Greek words "aizeno", which translates to "powerful" or "vigorous", and "gyps", meaning vulture. The species name honors Barbara Toomey, who was responsible for the discovery of some of the material used in naming the genus and contributed to Floridian paleontology beyond that.[1]