Name: Gastornis (Gaston’s bird).
Phonetic: Gas-tor-niss.
Named By: Hébert - 1855.
Synonyms: Barornis, Diatryma, Gastornis eduardsii, Gastornis minor, Omorhamphus, Zhongyuanus.
Classification: Chordata, Aves, Anseriformes, Gastornithidae.
Species: G. parisiensis (type), G. giganteus, G. geiselensis, G. sarasini, G. russeli, G. xichuanensis.
Diet: Uncertain, but probably herbivorous, refer to main text for clarification.
Size: Largest individuals easily up to 2 meters tall.
Known locations: Belgium. China. England. France. Germany. USA.
Time period: Paleocene to early Eocene.
Fossil representation: Numerous individuals of varying levels of completeness, but so many fossils have now been discovered that the form of Gastornis is now known without doubt.
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