Paraprefica

Paraprefica is an extinct genus of potoo (family Nyctibiidae) from the middle Eocene (c. 48 million years ago). Its fossil remains have been found in the Messel pit at Messel, Germany.

== Taxonomy == It is the only known member of the extinct subfamily Parapreficinae, erected in 2021 to distinguish Paraprefica from the extant potoos of the genus Nyctibius and Phyllaemulor, which have a slightly different anatomy and are known only from the Americas.thumb|left|Fossil of Paraprefica kelleri Described for the first time in 1999 by G. Mayr, this bird was at first placed in the genus Prefica, a North American fossil closely related to modern oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis). Later research showed however that Paraprefica had characteristics found only in the family Nyctibiidae, order Caprimulgiformes (the nightjars).