télargis

Télargis is a genus of extinct birds that lived during the Eocene epoch. These prehistoric avians are known from fossil remains found in the Green River Formation of Wyoming, United States. The genus was first described by paleontologist Storrs L. Olson in 1985. Télargis fossils are relatively rare, but they provide valuable insights into the diversity of birds present during this significant period of avian evolution.

The most well-known species within the genus is Télargis wetmorei. The skeletal structure of Télargis suggests it was a medium-sized bird, likely adapted for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Its beak morphology indicates a diet that may have included fish or other small aquatic organisms, similar to modern diving birds. The environment in which Télargis lived was characterized by a subtropical climate with numerous lakes and rivers, providing a suitable habitat for such a bird.

The discovery of Télargis contributes to our understanding of early bird diversification following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. Its taxonomic placement has been a subject of study, with researchers considering its relationships to various modern bird groups. While not directly ancestral to any living species, Télargis represents a branch of avian evolution that ultimately did not survive. The study of Télargis, like other fossil birds, helps reconstruct the ancient ecosystems and evolutionary pathways of birds.