Class Aves Family Cuculidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Cuculiformes Subfamily Centropodinae | |
Similar Barawertornis, Violaceous coucal, Kai coucal, Black‑billed coucal, White‑necked coucal |
Centropus colossus is an extinct species of coucal from the Late Pleistocene of Australia. It was described from submerged subfossil material (a slightly damaged left humerus) collected in 1979 from the Green Waterhole Cave of south-eastern South Australia. Characteristics of the holotype specimen indicate that the bird was either flightless or, at least, had reduced flight capability. It was larger than any of its living congeners and was one of the largest cuckoos in the world. The specific epithet, the Latin colossus, refers to its great size.
References
Centropus colossus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA