Ichthyornithes

Ichthyornithes is an extinct group of toothed birds that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. These ancient creatures were not dinosaurs, nor were they directly ancestral to modern birds, but rather represent a separate evolutionary lineage. Fossils of Ichthyornithes are primarily found in marine deposits, suggesting they were adapted to a life near or on the sea. Their common name, "seabirds," reflects this ecological niche.

One of the most striking features of Ichthyornithes was their possession of teeth, a characteristic lost in all modern bird species. These teeth were located in their jaws and likely used for grasping slippery prey such as fish and squid. Despite having teeth, they were clearly birds, exhibiting many avian skeletal features, including a fused clavicle (wishbone) and a keeled sternum, which would have supported powerful flight muscles.

The size of Ichthyornithes varied, with some species being relatively small, comparable to modern gulls, while others were larger. Their wings were well-developed, indicating they were capable of flight. The discovery of Ichthyornithes fossils was significant in understanding the diversity of bird-like animals during the Mesozoic Era and highlighted the complex evolutionary pathways that led to modern avian forms. Their extinction, like that of many other Cretaceous creatures, is thought to have occurred at the end of the period.