抄録
Evolution is one of the important points of view for biological studies, but most of the biologists studying ecology of recent living organisms know little about extinct species. In this paper, I introduce Japanese fossil birds of the Cenzoic era, excluding Preistocene and Holocene. The Japanese Islands were separated from the Chinese Continent, and surrounded by the sea since Cenzoic era, and many fossil seabirds, including some largest species, have been dug out from Cenzoic strata in Japan. A penguin-like Pericaniformes, copepteryx, was found in Japan, one of which species was the largest Plotopterigidae of the world, and another one of which was one of the most completely preserved fossil specimens. Also unique Pelecaniformes, Pelagornithidae, had tooth-like bony structure and wings of 5-6 m long wing span. They have been found widely and from Oligocene to Pliocene and are thought to be important in considering evolution of Pelagornithidae. In addition, there were scores of fossil birds that were extinct, and they have close relationship with recent birds found in Japan. It is reasonable to suggest that Japan is one of the most important places in which many fossil birds were found for studies on evolution and biogeography of birds
