Lieberküni

Lieberküni is a genus of extinct birds belonging to the order Ichthyornithiformes. These ancient birds are known primarily from fossil remains found in the Late Cretaceous period. The most well-known species, *Lieberküni antiqua*, was discovered in the Maastrichtian age deposits of North America. Fossils of Lieberküni exhibit a mosaic of primitive and advanced avian characteristics. For instance, they possessed teeth, a trait common in early birds but lost in modern species, yet they also showed features indicating a more developed wing structure, suggesting flight capabilities. The skeletal anatomy of Lieberküni indicates it was a relatively small to medium-sized bird, likely inhabiting coastal or inland aquatic environments. Its diet is presumed to have consisted of fish and other small aquatic prey, based on comparisons with other toothed birds of the Mesozoic era. The discovery and study of Lieberküni have been crucial in understanding the evolutionary transition from theropod dinosaurs to modern birds, shedding light on the diversification of avian lineages during the Cretaceous. The genus is named in honor of the German paleontologist Wilhelm Lieberkühn.