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Pseudocrypturus cercanaxius lived during the Eocene (55-40 million years ago). Pseudocrypturus means false tinamou and cercanaxius is from the Greek (kerkion: tail and anaxias: worthless), referring to the rudimentary tail of this species. It belonged to a group of birds known as Paleognathae, which means "old-jaws," referring to their primitive somewhat reptilian palate. It was related to modern birds like: ostriches, kiwis, rheas, cassowaris, emus, and tinamous.

Pseudocrypturus was a tinamou-like bird that waded the shorelines probing the shallow waters for insects and other invertebrates. It had the characteristic narrow beak and long legs of the tinamou, but unlike current species, it was more likely able to make longer flights and able to perch on branches.

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Subclass: Carinatae, Infraclass: Neornithes, Super-order: Paleognathae, Order: Lithornithiformes, Family: Lithornithidae, Genus: Pseudocrypturus, Species: cercanaxius.

The original specimen, from which this cast was made, was found in the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation, Wyoming. The original specimen sold for $30,000.