Lithornis

Lithornis Temporal range: Paleocene-Eocene, 56–40 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Woodcut of the L. vulturinus holotype
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Infraclass:	Palaeognathae
Order:	†Lithornithiformes
Family:	†Lithornithidae
Genus:	†Lithornis Owen, 1840[1]
Species
L. celetius Houde, 1988 L. hookeri Harrison, 1984 L. nasi Harrison, 1984 L. plebius Houde, 1988 L. promiscuus Houde, 1988 L. vulturinus Owen, 1840

Lithornis is a genus of extinct paleognathous birds. Although Lithornis was able to fly well, their closest relatives are the extant tinamous (which are poor flyers) and ratites (which are flightless birds).

Fossils of Lithornis are known with certainty from the Upper Paleocene through the Middle Eocene, but their fossil record may extend to the late Cretaceous. Lithornis is from ancient Greek for 'stone bird', as it is one of the first fossil birds to become widely discussed. Presumably closely related genera are Paracathartes and Pseudocrypturus.