[D] Hesperornis macdonaldi [~/~]
Describer
Martin & Lim, 2002
Time
Cretaceous Late Campanian
Classification
Saurischia Theropoda Tetanurae Coelurosauria Maniraptora Avialae Ornithothoraces Ornithurae [Hesperonithiformes]
Fossilsite
Pierre Shale, South Dakota, US
Info
Hesperornis macdonaldi (right femur) \\\"Smallest known hesperornithid, with a C-shaped lateral margin of femur, characteristic of Hesperornis.\\\" (femur length is 44.7mm). The authors say that this is probobably _not_ a juvenile Hesperornis mengeli, because in juveniles of Baptornis, the \\\"articular surfaces are nott as well formed as in [H. macdonaldi], but it has nearly reached adult size. Even if [H. macdonaldi] is [a] juvenile bird (doubtful in any case) it is still old enough that the discrepancy in size would be too great to consider it Hesperornis mengeli.\\\"