Loading AI tools
Extinct species of bird From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bennu heron (Ardea bennuides) is an extinct, very large heron from what is now the United Arab Emirates at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula.
Bennu heron Temporal range: Holocene, | |
---|---|
Representation of the Bennu deity in Egyptian mythology, possibly based on the Bennu heron | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Pelecaniformes |
Family: | Ardeidae |
Genus: | Ardea |
Species: | †A. bennuides |
Binomial name | |
†Ardea bennuides Hoch, 1977 | |
Found in 1977, remains of the heron have been dated to 2700–1800 BCE, coinciding with the Umm al-Nar period.[1][2] Based on remains discovered, it was approximately 2 m (6.6 ft) tall and had a wingspan up to 2.7 m (8.9 ft), thus surpassing the size of the largest living species in the heron family, the goliath heron.[3] It may have been the inspiration for the Bennu deity in Egyptian mythology, hence the specific name.[1]
It has been speculated that the Bennu heron went extinct because of wetland degradation. Another likely cause of their extinction would be humans overhunting their population.[4]