Gracilisgallus

Gracilisgallus Temporal range: Late Miocene–Early Pliocene, 3.6–5.3 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genus:	†Gracilisgallus Yu & Li, 2025
Species:	†G. linxia
Binomial name
†Gracilisgallus linxia Yu & Li, 2025

Gracilisgallus (meaning "slender chicken") is an extinct genus of phasianid birds known from the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene Linxia Basin (Liushu Formation–Hewangjia Formation) of China. The genus contains a single species, Gracilisgallus linxia, known from an almost complete articulated skeleton. Gracilisgallus is likely a close relative of modern grouse and turkeys. Panraogallus, another phasianid, is one of many other well-preserved birds known from the Liushu Formation.^[1][2]

The Gracilisgallus holotype specimen, IVPP V30721, was discovered in outcrops bordering the upper Liushu Formation and lower Hewangjia Formation near Shi-li-dun village in Gansu Province, China. The specimen is a nearly complete, articulated skeleton preserved three-dimensionally. Some regions, such as the back of the skull, the lower part of the left hindlimb, and parts of the pelvis, are missing or poorly preserved.^[1]

In 2025, Ting-Yu Yu and Zhi-Heng Li described Gracilisgallus linxia as a new genus and species of extinct phasianid bird based on these fossil remains. The generic name, Gracilisgallus, combines the Latin words gracilis, meaning "slender", and gallus, meaning "chicken" ("rooster"), in reference to the slender morphology of the taxon's skeleton. The specific name, linxia, references the type locality in the Linxia Basin.^[1]

This Galliformes article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e