Messelornis cristata, Messel, Bird, Rail Iguanodon It was named by Matthews

It was named by Matthews and Brown in 1922

Like other members of their phylum they are spiny skinned

It used to be thought to be a very early dinosaur and a primitive prosauropod

1---xiphactinus fish skull---cretaceous

small fish

Messelornis cristata, Messel, Bird, Rail Iguanodon It was named by MatthewsIn spite of the fact that most of the prehistoric Messel area was covered by lakes, typical waterfowl (like ducks) are seldom found. Only a single specimen of a bird which was clearly adapted to water life has been found to date. The most common bird found a Lake Messel is the lakeshore inhabitant Messelornis cristata or "Messel rail." The Messel Pit is a no longer used quarry near the village of Messel which is located about 35 km south east of