| Athene cretensis Temporal range: Pleistocene |
|
|---|---|
| Athene cretensis and Candiacervus ropalophorus | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Prehistoric
|
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Strigiformes |
| Family: | Strigidae |
| Genus: | Athene |
| Species: | A. cretensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Athene cretensis Weesie, 1982 |
|
The Cretan Owl (Athene cretensis) is an extinct species of owl from the Pleistocene of Crete, Mediterranean. It was first named by Weesie in 1982.[1] In life, it would have been at least 2 feet tall, and flightless or nearly flightless. The Cretan Owl went extinct a while after humans began inhabiting Crete.