Ichthyornis (meaning "fish bird", after its fish-like vertebrae) was a genus of toothed seabirds from the Late Cretaceous Period of North America, between 95-85 million years ago. These particular Ichthyornis are showcased in the 2000Disney animated feature film Dinosaur.
Ichthyornis has been historically important in shedding light on bird evolution. It was the first discovered prehistoric bird preserved with teeth, and Charles Darwin noted its significance during the early years of the theory of evolution. Its fossil remains are known from the chalks of Alberta, Alabama, Kansas, New Mexico, Saskatchewan, and Texas, in strata that were laid down in the Western Interior Seaway during the Turonian-Campanian ages, about 95-83.5 million years ago. Ichthyornis is a common component of the Niobrara Formation fauna, and numerous specimens of both adult and immature individuals have been found. Ichthyornis remains important today, as it is one of the few Mesozoic era birds known from more than a few specimens.
Ichthyornis are common birds that live in the dinosaur world. They apparently feed on fish because they are seen near lakes and on the island where the lemurs live. A flock of them were spotted at the lake in the Nesting Grounds during the beginning of the film when a babyParasaurolophus leapt through it, causing several of them to fly up. Several more were near the cliffs of Lemur Island when two of them mobbed a Pteranodon as it was flying back to its nest with Aladar's egg, causing it to drop the egg. More of them flew away from the island as the meteor hit the ocean.
After having sighted Clawtooth Mountain and leaving the T. rexranchers to continue herding their longhorns, Arlo and Spot come across a whole flock of Ichthyornis while running towards the direction to home.
