Diversity of pseudo-toothed birds (Pelagornithidae) from the Eocene of Antarctica

Cenizo, Marcos; Hospitaleche, Carolina Acosta; Reguero, Marcelo Alfredo

doi:10.1017/jpa.2015.48

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The occurrence of pelagornithids in Ad-Dakhla is consistent with the fact that remains of these birds are usually found in near-shore marine environments (e.g. Mourer-Chauviré & Geraads, 2008; Bourdon, Amaghzaz & Bouya, 2010; Mayr & Rubilar-Rogers, 2010; Boessenecker & Smith, 2011; Bourdon & Cappetta, 2012; Mayr & Zvonok, 2012; Cenizo, Hospitaleche & Reguero, 2015; Solórzano & Rincón, 2015). The ophidian Pterosphenus has a wide palaeogeographic distribution; it is preferentially found in Mangrove areas but the genus also occurs in open marine, brackish and freshwater environments, usually close to the coasts (Rage et al .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…In contrast, the genus Pelagornis spans late Oligocene – late Pliocene time and only includes gigantic forms that were exceedingly specialized for soaring flight (Mourer-Chauviré & Geraads, 2008; Mayr & Rubilar-Rogers, 2010; Mayr, Goedert & McLeod, 2013; Ksepka, 2014; Solórzano & Rincón, 2015). A number of pelagornithid remains of uncertain affinities have been described between middle Eocene and middle Oligocene strata which exhibit some, but not all, derived features of Pelagornis (Mayr & Smith, 2010; Bourdon & Cappetta, 2012; Mayr & Zvonok, 2012; Cenizo, Hospitaleche & Reguero, 2015). Further collecting in middle and late Eocene localities such as Ad-Dakhla can potentially shed light on the phylogenetic relationships between the earliest pseudo-toothed birds and the highly specialized gigantic forms of Neogene time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marine vertebrate fauna from the late Eocene Samlat Formation of Ad-Dakhla, southwestern Morocco

Zouhri

Khalloufi²,

Bourdon

et al. 2017

Geol. Mag.

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Late Eocene deposits of the Samlat Formation, south of Ad-Dakhla city, southwestern Morocco, have yielded a mixed marine and terrestrial vertebrate fauna. Abundant and diversified chondrichthyans and archaeocete whales have been found, as well as the remains of sirenians and proboscideans. Here we describe the rest of this fossil assemblage which includes actinopterygians, turtles, palaeophiid snakes, crocodiles and pelagornithid seabirds. Actinopterygians are represented by at least two large-sized taxa, a scombroid probably close to the extantAcanthocybiumor to the EoceneAramichthys, and a siluriform related to the Ariidae. Turtles include at least four species represented by shell fragments. This mixed coastal and continental turtle fauna includes one littoral species of Podocnemididae, one or two deep-sea species of Dermochelyidae and one deep-sea species of Cheloniidae. Another turtle species is assigned to the terrestrial Testudinidae. Fragmentary crocodilian remains indicate the presence of undetermined eusuchians tentatively referred to Gavialidae and/or to Crocodylidae. Snake vertebrae are tentatively attributed to the genusPterosphenus(Palaeophiidae) pending the discovery of new material. Avian remains belong to a large pseudo-toothed bird (Pelagornithidae). Pseudo-tooth morphology resembles that of the late Oligocene – Neogene genusPelagornis. Additional bird remains are needed for a more precise taxonomic assignment. The fossil assemblage and palaeoenvironment of the upper Eocene deposits of the Samlat Formation appear closely related to those of the upper Eocene – lower Oligocene deposits of the Fayum (Egypt). The initial overview of this fauna provides an important contribution to the study of vertebrate evolution in North Africa near the Eocene–Oligocene transition.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine vertebrate fauna from the late Eocene Samlat Formation of Ad-Dakhla, southwestern Morocco

Zouhri

Khalloufi²,

Bourdon

et al. 2017

Geol. Mag.

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“…This estimate of pseudoteeth spacing from UCMP 323792 is greater than all measurements compiled from various pelagornithids by Louchart et al 6 , except those within the larger range of measurements from P. chilensis (ranging from 53.9 to 76.0 mm). The base width of the PT1 present (14.7 mm) also is larger than those compiled by Louchart et al 6 , except for the larger measurements from P. chilensis (12.5-15.6 mm) and P. longirostris (13.3-15.9 mm), a pelagornithid of unknown Cenozoic age 52 with cranial dimensions similar to P. chilensis 9 . Based on these measurements, UCMP 323792 may represent one of the largest pelagornithids found to date.…”

Section: Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Numbers and pelagornithid outlines correspond to specimen localities displayed in Figure 1. Pelagornithid outlines are modified from Boessenecker and Smith 3 ; the colors and relative sizes of these outlines correspond to the "large" (in gray) and "giant" (in black) size-types of Cenizo et al 9 . www.nature.com/scientificreports/ UCMP 322176 has been attributed to the Submeseta Formation 9,45 .…”

Section: Revised Stratigraphic Provenience For Ucmp 322176mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pelagornithid outlines are modified from Boessenecker and Smith 3 ; the colors and relative sizes of these outlines correspond to the "large" (in gray) and "giant" (in black) size-types of Cenizo et al 9 . www.nature.com/scientificreports/ UCMP 322176 has been attributed to the Submeseta Formation 9,45 . However, a review of the original locality information indicates that rather than the Submeseta Formation, the tarsometatarsus was recovered from the same stratigraphic horizon as UCMP locality RV8200 (formerly RV-8200) within Telm 5 (the La Meseta Formation).…”

Section: Revised Stratigraphic Provenience For Ucmp 322176mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Earliest fossils of giant-sized bony-toothed birds (Aves: Pelagornithidae) from the Eocene of Seymour Island, Antarctica

Kloess

Poust

Stidham

2020

Sci Rep

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While pelagornithid or ‘bony-toothed’ bird fossils representing multiple species are known from Antarctica, a new dentary fragment of a pelagornithid bird from the middle Eocene Submeseta Formation on Seymour Island, Antarctica represents a species with a body size on par with the largest known species in the clade. Measurements from the partial ‘toothed’ dentary point to a giant body size for the species, although the spacing among the pseudoteeth differs from that published for other pelagornithids. The discrepancy might suggest that previous techniques are not adequate for examination of incomplete material or that another factor such as phylogeny might impact size estimates and comparisons. Combined with a revised stratigraphic position in the early Eocene La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island for the largest pelagornithid tarsometatarsus known, these Antarctic fossils demonstrate the early evolution of giant body size in the clade (by ~ 50 Ma), and they likely represent not only the largest flying birds of the Eocene but also some of the largest volant birds that ever lived (with an estimated 5–6 m wingspan). Furthermore, the distribution of giant-sized pelagornithid fossils across more than 10 million years of Antarctic geological deposits points to a prolonged survival of giant-sized pelagornithids within the southern seas, and their success as a pelagic predatory component of marine and coastal ecosystems alongside early penguins.

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Oldest, smallest and phylogenetically most basal pelagornithid, from the early Paleocene of New Zealand, sheds light on the evolutionary history of the largest flying birds

Mayr

Pietri

Love³

et al. 2019

Papers in Palaeontology

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The Cenozoic Pelagornithidae, or pseudotoothed birds, are characterized by unique bony projections along the cutting edges of the beak. These birds were previously known from late Paleocene to Pliocene fossil sites and some species reached wingspans up to 6.4 m. Here we describe a partial skeleton of a small‐sized pelagornithid from the early Paleocene of New Zealand. Protodontopteryx ruthae gen. et sp. nov. is the oldest record of the clade, the smallest known species, and the first pre‐Eocene pelagornithid from the Southern Hemisphere. The skull of the new species exhibits the characteristic pelagornithid morphology, but the postcranial skeleton distinctly differs from other pelagornithids, and various plesiomorphic features indicate that it is the earliest‐diverging representative of the Pelagornithidae. The much stouter humerus suggests that the new species was less adapted to sustained soaring than previously known pelagornithids. Pseudoteeth therefore evolved before pelagornithids became highly specialized gliders. Unlike the giant Neogene pelagornithid species, which presumably were skimmers, early Paleocene pelagornithids are likely to have targeted selected prey items and may have been predominantly piscivorous. The new species furthermore suggests that pelagornithids evolved in the Southern Hemisphere and documents a very early radiation of neornithine seabirds, which may have been triggered by changes in marine ecosystems around the K–Pg boundary.

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Diversity of pseudo-toothed birds (Pelagornithidae) from the Eocene of Antarctica

Cited by 15 publications

References 45 publications

Marine vertebrate fauna from the late Eocene Samlat Formation of Ad-Dakhla, southwestern Morocco

Marine vertebrate fauna from the late Eocene Samlat Formation of Ad-Dakhla, southwestern Morocco

Earliest fossils of giant-sized bony-toothed birds (Aves: Pelagornithidae) from the Eocene of Seymour Island, Antarctica

Oldest, smallest and phylogenetically most basal pelagornithid, from the early Paleocene of New Zealand, sheds light on the evolutionary history of the largest flying birds

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