Dromaius ocypus
Dromaius ocypus, or swift emu, was a species of Dromaius ('emu') that lived in the last age of both the Pliocene[1][circular reference] and before the coming Ice Age, the Tertiary Period. Not much is known about the species other than its place of discovery and its body plan.
Fossil remains
Remains were originally found at the MampuworduSands of the Lake Palankarinna area in the Tirari Desert of Australia. These fossil beds are made of sandstone.
Dromaius ocypus also is confirmed as a seperate species based on its body plan. This species of emu was much more gracile than modern emus, giving it the species name D. ocypus, meaning "swift" or "quick" in Ancient Greek. This species also had an elongated tarsometatarsus.[2]
Extinction
This emu species likely went extinct due to the major climate changes of the end Pliocene, such as severe droughts following the trend of drying weather. This dry weather was likely started by two nearby supernovas releasing harmful radiation and damaging Earth's ozone layer.
See also
References
- ↑ "Dromaius". GBIF. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ↑ Boles, Walter E. "A new emu (Dromaiinae) from the Late Oligocene Etadunna Formation". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
"Fossil ratite birds of the late Tertiary of South Australia".
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