Description
The Ameghinornithidae are an extinct family of birds that lived during the Eocene and Oligocene of Europe and Africa. The resembled modern day Trumpeters from South America: they had elongated legs with claws, skulls with hooked beaks and quite small wings. Therefore, they may have been unable to fly. It is yet unclear if they were herbivorous and/or carnivorous.
Distribution & Fossil evidence
Fossils of the Ameghinornithidae have been found in Europe and Africa and possibly in Asia too. Some of these fossils were exquisitely preserved in the Messel formation in Germany.
Species
Just a few genuses and species are described within this family. It is therefore still a weird family with a lot of uncertainties.