Ancient bird species 'rediscovered' in Morden

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Ancient bird species 'rediscovered' in Morden
By Jim Bender, Winnipeg Sun
First posted: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 07:08 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 07:54 PM EDT
A Manitoba fossil found in 1978 has now been identified as a new species.

"It's what we call a rediscovery," said paleontologist Victoria Markstrom from Morden's Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.

A paper published in the scientific journal Cretaceous Research Thursday by Japanese paleontologists Kei-ichi Aotsuka and Tamaki Sato announced the discovery of Hesperornis lumgairi. It's named after David Lumgair, who owns the Thornhill property where the species was found.

The Hesperornis was a type of ancient, flightless diving marine bird and the lumgairi is the only holotype, or first of its kind, to be found at the Centre.

"It's really exciting to have the first specimen of this type of species," said Markstrom, adding that it could be on display later this month.

"These kinds of discoveries highlight the importance of the CFDC to Manitoba and Canada as a centre for scientific discovery and a storehouse for the province's unique and priceless fossil treasures."

The Hesperornis was part of the diet of marine predators like the mosasaur (the world's largest is housed at the CFDC).

There are now 11 types of Hesperornis in the world, with four of them recently discovered in the Morden area by Aotsuka and Sato, Markstrom said.

"To have discovered and been able to name a new species was a great honour," said the paper written by Aotsuka and Sato.
A Hesperornis exhibit at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre created by paleontologist Kei-ichi Aotsuka.

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