Surnia robusta

Surnia robusta; Temporal range: Early Pleistocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Strigiformes
Family:	Strigidae
Genus:	Surnia
Species:	†S. robusta
Binomial name
	†Surnia robusta; Jánossy, 1977

Surnia robusta is an extinct species of owl in the genus Surnia that lived in Central Europe during the Pleistocene epoch.

Etymology

The specific epithet of S. robusta is derived from the Latin robustus, meaning strong or large, referencing the animal's large dimensions.

Palaeobiology

Diet

This species of owl may have, through feeding behaviour, been responsible for the enormous accumulations of leporid remains at the late Early Pleistocene site of Somssich Hill 2 in Hungary, although others suggest a larger owl in the genus Bubo was the causal agent.

References

↑ "PBDB Taxon". Retrieved 28 February 2026.
↑ Jánossy, Dénes (1977). "Plio-Pleistocene Bird Remains from the Carpathian Basin. III. Strigiformes, Falconiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes". Aquila. 84: 9–36. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
↑ Gasparik, Mihály; Pazonyi, Piroska (2018). "The macromammal remains and revised faunal list of the Somssich Hill 2 locality (late Early Pleistocene, Hungary) and the Epivillafranchian faunal change". Fragmenta Palaeontologica Hungarica. 35 (null): 153–178. doi:10.17111/FragmPalHung.2018.35.153. Retrieved 28 February 2026.

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[1] "PBDB Taxon". Retrieved 28 February 2026.

[Janossy1978-2] Jánossy, Dénes (1977). "Plio-Pleistocene Bird Remains from the Carpathian Basin. III. Strigiformes, Falconiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes". Aquila. 84: 9–36. Retrieved 28 February 2026.

[3] Gasparik, Mihály; Pazonyi, Piroska (2018). "The macromammal remains and revised faunal list of the Somssich Hill 2 locality (late Early Pleistocene, Hungary) and the Epivillafranchian faunal change". Fragmenta Palaeontologica Hungarica. 35 (null): 153–178. doi:10.17111/FragmPalHung.2018.35.153. Retrieved 28 February 2026.