Etymology: Bird from Namibia
First Described By: Mourer-Chauviré, 2003
Classification: Dinosauromorpha, Dinosauriformes, Dracohors, Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoromorpha, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostaylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Neoaves, Inopinaves, Opisthocomiformes, Opisthocomidae
Time and Place: About 16 million years ago, in the Burdigalian age of the Miocene of the NeogeneÂ
Namibiavis is known from Arrisdrift in Karas, NamibiaÂ
Physical Description: Namibiavis was a primitive Hoatzin - a group of weirdo birds that only have one living representative, distinctive for its frugivorous diet, smelly farts, visible baby claws, and weird plumage. However, despite showing the extent of Hoatzins in terms of range and their earliest evolution, Namibiavis hasn’t been very thoroughly studied. Still, there are some things to say about it. It had longer and straighter wing bones than later forms, and it had a more splayed apart shoulder area. Otherwise, it seems to have been similarly stocky and chicken-like, as in other Hoatzins. It probably had bright coloration like the living species and similar weird body traits.
Diet: It is reasonable to suppose that Namibiavis also ate fruit and plants, like the living Hoatzin, though without more fossils it is difficult to say.
Behavior: Given that Namibiavis is known from partial remains that are poorly described, it’s difficult to determine what it’s behavior would have been, beyond similar to the living Hoatzin. Given its stronger wing bones than the living type, it’s possible that Namibiavis was still a decent flyer - a condition supported by the fact that it is basal on the Hoatzin family tree. It probably was a noisy bird though, like the living Hoatzin. Beyond that, it’s a guessing game.Â
Ecosystem: As of now, the environment of Namibiavis is not well known; it seems likely that it lived in a tropical and wet environment, such as a wet forest associated with a river system. It is not known to have lived with any other animals.
Other: Namibiavis is of vital scientific significance - it’s one of the earliest confirmed Hoatzins, helping to understand where this mysterious (and difficult to place) group came from. In addition, it’s presence in Africa helps to show that Hoatzins as a group have not always been just from South America - but rather, from the entirety of the neotropics. This widens the range of Hoatzins extensively, potentially pointing to even more diversity from the group than we even know now.
