SAVAGE ANCIENT SEAS | MONOLOGUES | HESPERORNIS regalis

Hesperornis regalis

(hes per ORN iss)

Description: Marine Bird

Specimen location: Niobrara Chalk of Northwestern Kansas

Name means: “western bird”

Hesperornis was the largest of the flightless diving birds of the late Cretaceous. Unlike penguins, which use their feet and wings to propel themselves through the water, Hesperornis used only its large feet since its small wings were of little use. Even stranger, the position of its pelvis and hind legs suggest that Hesperornis could not have stood up on solid ground!