Gastornis [1] (Latin Gastornis) is a genus of extinct large flightless birds that existed in the Paleocene and Lower Eocene (61.6–48.6 million years ago [2]). Fossil remains found in Europe. In North America inhabited similar birds, attributed to the genus Diatrim [3] (Diatryma). Now it is generally accepted that they are part of the Gastornis genus. These species have disappeared, as their eggs in nests on the ground became easy prey for other predators.
