Griphornis

grip/claw bird

• gripho- · Greek · griffin / grasping / claw
• ornis · Greek · bird

Griphornis is formed from the Greek roots 'gryphos' (or 'griphos'), referring to a griffin or a grasping claw, and 'ornis', meaning bird. The name was applied to a small avian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of England. It alludes to the creature's bird-like, grasping nature. The name reflects the transitional, bird-like features of the fossil.

Named by

Woodward

Year named

1862

Period

Late Jurassic

Stage

Tithonian

Found in

Lithographic limestone, Solenhofen area, Bavaria, Germany (originally attributed to England)

Griphornis is a nomen dubium based on fragmentary feather or bone material. It was originally proposed in the 19th century in the context of early debates about Archaeopteryx and avian origins. The material is too fragmentary to confidently diagnose, and the name is not considered valid today. It is not a non-avian dinosaur but a probable early bird (avialian); it is therefore closely related to dinosaurs and is sometimes included in broad discussions of dinosaur evolution.