Pasquiaornis

Pasquiaornis lived about 95 to 93 million years ago, during the Late Cretaceous period.1

Two species are known: Pasquiaornis hardiei and Pasquiaornis tankei. P. tankei was about one-third larger than P. hardiei.1

Pasquiaornis was a member of the Hesperornithes, a group of toothed, diving birds that were mostly flightless.1

Its wing bones were thickened and not well suited for flying, so scientists think it probably could not fly.1

Fossils of at least 9 individuals were found in a small area, which might mean they lived in colonies or died together in a mass event.1

The rocks where Pasquiaornis was found were once the bottom of the Western Interior Seaway, a shallow sea that split North America in two.1