Diatryma

Historical Background
Diatryma was a giant carnivorous flightless bird which dominated in North America during the Paleocoene and Eocene Periods of the Tertiary era (65 mya- 55 mya). Diatryma stood 2m (6 feet) tall and had a giant beak. It was originally considered separate from the Genus Gastornis, which resided in Europe, but taxonomists decided the evidence indicated Gastornis and Diatryma were the same genus and Diatryma was folded into Genus ''Gastornis. Diatryma gigantea'' was considered the best speciment from this group. Diatryma, which means “through a hole”, was first described in 1876.