Mergellus albellus
By Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
Name: Mergellus albellus
Status: Extant
First Described: 1840
Described By: Selby
Classification: Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Anseriformes, Anseres, Anatoidea, Anatidae
Today’s dinosaur is the Smew! The Smew is a bird in its own genus and it is not considered threatened with extinction. Though only having one species today, it does have extinct species, specifically from about 13 million years ago in Hungary, in the Serravallian age of the Miocene of the Neogene. There are also subfossils from this specific species in England from a few hundred years ago. Today the Smew spends the breeding season in the taiga of Europe and Asia, and then spends the winter on the Baltic and Black Seas, as well as Germany and Eastern Europe, though some can still be found in the United Kingdom. It is a Sea Duck with a very distinct appearance, sometimes described as “cracked ice” and it looks exceedingly black and white while flying. There are also ovular patches on its wings. The have a hooked bill tip and serrated bill edges, aiding in catching fish. They like to nest in tree holes and are very shy birds, difficult to really get glimpses of.
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