Leptoptilos patagonicus

Leptoptilos patagonicus is an extinct species of large-bodied stork that existed during the Late Miocene. Fossils of the species were discovered in the San Madryn Formation in Chubut Province, Argentina.^[1] L. patagonicus is the first fossil record discovery of a member of Leptoptilos in South America^[2] and the only one found so far in the New World.^[3]

Leptoptilos patagonicus Temporal range: Late Miocene (Chasicoan) ~9.41 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ciconiidae
Genus:	Leptoptilos
Species:	†L. patagonicus
Binomial name
†Leptoptilos patagonicus Noriega & Cladera, 2008

Description

In comparison with extant Leptoptilos, L. patagonicus is larger than L. javanicus and similar in size to the largest members of L. dubius and L. crumeniferus.^[4] In comparison with extant Leptoptilos, the hindlimbs are larger than the forelimbs, resulting in shorter wings relative to extant Leptotilos, a characteristic shared by the extinct Leptoptilos falconeri.^[4] L. patagonicus is smaller than L. falconeri.^[4]

The humerus and ulna are shorter than those of L. dubius and L. crumeniferus.^[5] The tibiotarsus is shorter than that of L. falconeri, but slighter longer than those usually found in L. dubius and L. crumeniferus.^[5]