Hesperornis were large flightless marine birds with toothed jaws. Their unusually oriented legs, with a short femur and long tibia, and their lack of functional wings, made Hesperornis a powerful swimmer and diver. However these adaptations could have made life on land very difficult for them. It is unclear whether they could walk. They were even more adapted to aquatic life than the penguin. These predatory birds presumably fished the North American Inland Sea during the Late Cretaceous Period.
Available in a diving (as seen in photo), swimming, or awkward standing pose. Add to a marine display, chasing fish or ammonites, or being pursued by larger marine fish, reptiles, or even a large ammonite!
The University of Wisconsin, Madison field crew discovered this magnificent specimen in the late 1980's in western Kansas.