Asteriornis ("Asteria's bird") is an extinct genus of bird from the Late Cretaceous of Belgium which is known from a single species, Asteriornis maastrichtensis (Maastrichtian Asteria's bird). It was closely related to birds of the extant superorder Galloanserae such as chickens and ducks. Members of the genus were small, long-legged birds (~394 grams [13.9 oz]) that lived near the coastline and co-existed with more "primitive" types of birds such as Ichthyornis.

Asteriornis was introduced in No Way to Seaway as part of Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure sequel set in the 2010s after Desmond Miles and Shay Cormac were attack New York in 2015 AD. Asteriornis was scattered whole world due to Desmond Miles being the new Grand Master of Templar Knights.

Etymology

The genus name, Asteriornis, was constructed from ornis, the Greek word for bird, and from Asteria, a titan from Greek mythology, who was associated with falling stars, and about whom there is a famous myth in which she transforms herself into a quail. The Asteri part of genus name thus alludes to the Chicxulub impactor (a "falling star"), and also alludes to quails which are members of the galloanserans. The species name Asteriornis maastrichtensis is named after the Maastricht Formation.

The researchers who discovered and described the fossil gave Asteriornis the nickname "Wonderchicken", which was picked up by various news outlets.

Physical Appearance

The beak was light and slightly bent downward. The beak lacked a hooked tip and any unique attachments to the remainder of the skull, in contrast to galloanserans. Instead, it had a slightly rounded front tip. The orbits (eye sockets), where a V-shaped portion of the nasal bones cut the frontal bones, were where the skull was narrowest. The jaw joint was made up of extremely galloanseran-like bones.

The tuberculum subcapitulare, a third, smaller knob, was next to the two prominent knobs that joined the quadrate bone—the cranium's contribution to the jaw joint—to the skull roof. The lower jaw, or mandible, was attached to the quadrate by a pair of sockets. Its back end included a tiny inward-facing medial process and a massive hooked rearward-facing retroarticular process. These traits are all thought to be specific to galloanserans, or at least most prevalent in them.

The skull resembles that of galliform birds, such pheasants and hens, in certain ways. These consist of nasal bones that split in front of the eyes and unfused snout bones. It is similar to anseriform birds like ducks and geese in other ways. Among these are the jaw's hooked retroarticular process and the postorbital process, which is the part of bone that forms the back edge of the eye socket and curves forward at its lower end. These illustrate the evolutionary notion that creatures that are closely related to a common ancestor exhibit some similarities with one other.

The segment of radius spreads and flattens as it approaches the wrist, where it has a big hooked bump. Leg bones are slender and elongated, resembling contemporary ground-dwelling birds in both structure and proportion. A large, angular medial condyle and well-developed muscle ridges are features of the femur. Toward the knee, the tibiotarsus is the widest, but the tarsometatarsus is thinner and has ridges on it. Asteriornis is based on diagnostic and well-preserved skull material and its status is less unstable, so it can be considered among the oldest known undisputed fossil of a modern-style neornithean bird.

Abilities

Asteriornis was a ground-dwelling bird that resembled both land birds and waterfowl based on the proportions of its skull and limbs.

Asteriornis is a basic wader in shallow water, has short, burst-flapping flight (not strong long-distance flying), is probably not as good a swimmer as ducks, and is adapted for foraging both on land and near water.

Ecology

The reason Neornithes were the only dinosaurs to survive the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event may be explained by Asteriornis. The fact that it coexisted with non-neornithean birds like Ichthyornis suggests that competition was not the main cause of the extinction of non-neornitheans, which were largely similar to contemporary birds but went extinct alongside other non-avian dinosaurs. It has been suggested that early Neornithes had ecological advantages such as small size, a terrestrial habitat, and a generalist food that helped them endure and evolve after the extinction. Asteriornis satisfies these requirements, implying that these suspicions were warranted.

Behavior

Asteriornis most likely lived in small groups, similar to sandgrouse or quails. Asteriornis was probably seen foraging on the ground, moving quickly to get away, and communicating vocally. It's likely that Asteriornis was not very territorial. Asteriornis behaved like little game birds; it was probably timid but not hostile to people. Similar to quails or chickens, this species may get acclimated to human presence while remaining wary and apprehensive and not harmful.

Cause of Extinction

This species is extinct due to the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) asteroid impact (~66 million years ago).

Events causing extinction:

Global firestorms.
Sunlight blockage → cold and darkness.
Collapse of food chains.

Asteriornis lived right before the impact; it did not survive, but its lineage gave rise to modern birds.

Distribution and Habitat

Asteriornis is retrieved from four blocks of sediment found at the CBR-Romontbos quarry near Eben-Emael in the Maastricht Formation of Belgium. This geological formation is the namesake of the Maastrichtian stage, which was the last stage of the Cretaceous period and the Mesozoic era. It is dated to around 66.8 to 66.7 million years old, less than a million years before the arrival of the asteroid that caused the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, killed off all non-avian dinosaurs (and many other animals), and began the Cenozoic era.

Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Stable
Population: 0
Locomotion: Airborne
Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain.
Earth:
- Extinct: Belgium
Berbania/Hirawhassa: none
Reinachos/Ityosel: none
Thatrollwa: none
Sawintir: none
Agarathos: none

Tamed

Asteriornis would be comparable to a little pheasant or quail if it were still around now. Unless selectively bred, this bird was not as peaceful or domesticated as chickens.