Seraphinus

Seraphinus is a genus of extinct birds belonging to the order Hesperornithiformes, a group of toothed, flightless seabirds that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils of Seraphinus have been found in North America. These birds were adapted for a marine environment, possessing strong limbs for swimming and diving, though their wings were greatly reduced and likely non-functional for flight.

The defining characteristics of Seraphinus include its specific skeletal features, particularly in the skull and vertebral column, which distinguish it from other hesperornithiforms. Like its relatives, Seraphinus possessed serrated teeth set in a groove along the jaw, an adaptation for grasping slippery prey such as fish. Their diet likely consisted of small marine animals.

The discovery of Seraphinus contributes to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of early birds. It highlights the successful diversification of avian lineages during the Mesozoic Era, with some groups evolving specialized adaptations for aquatic life. The extinction of Seraphinus and the entire Hesperornithiformes order occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period, likely due to the K-Pg extinction event that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs and many other species. The fossil record of Seraphinus provides valuable insights into the predatory roles birds filled in ancient marine ecosystems.