Masillaraptoridae

Masillaraptoridae is an extinct family of stem-group falconiform birds from the Eocene of Europe. They are noted for their relatively long legs. Two genera have been named: Danielsraptor, from the London Clay of England, and Masillaraptor, from Messel Pit in Germany.^[1][2][3]

Masillaraptorids Temporal range: early-middle Eocene, 54.6–47 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Life restoration of Masillaraptor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	†Masillaraptoridae Mayr, 2009
Genera
†Danielsraptor †Masillaraptor

Description

Masillaraptorids had long legs, which may indicate that they had a terrestrial lifestyle, foraging on the ground similar to modern caracaras. They had large pygostyles, suggesting that they would have likely had long tail feathers. This, in addition to their long ulnae, suggest that they were capable of well-developed flight. Their beaks are similar to those of extinct phorusrhacids and extant caracaras.^[3]

Classification

The cladogram below displays the phylogenetic position of Masillaraptoridae within the Falconiformes:^[3]

	Chauna torquata (southern screamer) Australaves Falconiformes Caracara plancus (crested caracara) †Masillaraptoridae Masillaraptor parvunguis Danielsraptor phorusrhacoides Cariamiformes †Bathornis spp. †Dynamopterus spp. Cariama cristata (red-legged seriema) †Phorusrhacidae (terror birds) Llallawavis scagliai Psilopterus lemoinei Patagornis marshi