Asteriornis maastrichtensis

† Asteriornis maastrichtensis is a Late Cretaceous bird from Belgium representing the oldest known crown-group galloanseran (the lineage including modern chickens and ducks). Approximately pigeon-sized, this carnivore inhabited coastal environments near the end of the Cretaceous and survived the mass extinction event 66 million years ago.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Asteriornis maastrichtensis was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Asteriornis maastrichtensis lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.