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A New Mousebird (Coliiformes: Coliidae) from the Oligocene of Germany

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A New Mousebird (Coliiformes: Coliidae) from the Oligocene of Germany J. Ornithol. 141, 85±92 (2000) Ó Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft/Blackwell Wissenschafts-Verlag, Berlin ISSN 0021-8375 A new mousebird (Coliiformes: Coliidae) from the Oligocene of Germany Gerald Mayr Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Sektion fuÈr Ornithologie, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt/M. E-mail: [email protected] Summary A new species and genus of mousebird (Coliiformes: Coliidae) from the Oligocene (Rupe- lian) of Frauenweiler near Wiesloch (Baden-WuÈrttemberg, Germany) is described. Oligo- colius brevitarsus n. gen. n. sp. is the first Oligocene mousebird and one of the most complete skeletons of early Tertiary Coliidae to have come to light so far. The new taxon has a more strongly developed wing and a much shorter tarsometatarsus than recent mousebirds and was probably adapted to a more sustained flight. Key words: Coliiformes, Coliidae, Oligocene, Oligocolius brevitarsus n. gen. n. sp., wing propor- tions Zusammenfassung Ein neuer Mausvogel (Coliiformes: Coliidae) aus dem OligozaÈn Deutschlands Eine neue Gattung und Art der MausvoÈgel (Coliiformes: Coliidae) wird aus dem OligozaÈn (Rupel) von Frauenweiler bei Wiesloch (Baden-WuÈrttemberg, Deutschland) beschrieben. Oligocolius brevitarsus n. gen. n. sp. ist der erste oligozaÈne Mausvogel und eines der voll- staÈndigsten Skelette fruÈhtertiaÈrer Coliidae, das bisher gefunden wurde. Das neue Taxon hat einen kraÈftiger entwickelten FluÈgel und einen viel kuÈrzeren Tarsometatarsus als re- zente MausvoÈgel und war wahrscheinlich an einen Flug angepaût, der ausdauernder als bei rezenten Arten war. Introduction very coly-like Lower Eocene genus Chascaco- colius Houde & Olson 1992, originally referred The order Coliiformes (mousebirds or colies) to the Sandcoleidae, has been considered to be comprises two families, the extinct Sandcolei- of uncertain systematic affinities by Mayr & dae Houde & Olson 1992, and the Coliidae Peters (1998) and might be more closely re- Swainson 1837 (see Mayr & Peters, 1998). lated to the Coliidae. Although the distribution of the two recent The earliest certain record of the Coliidae is genera Colius and Urocolius is restricted to Masillacolius brevidactylus Mayr & Peters Africa south of the Sahara, most fossil species 1998 from the Middle Eocene of Messel (Ger- have been discovered in Europe and North many). This species is distinguished from all America. other coliiform birds by its comparatively short The Sandcoleidae are fairly abundant in the toes. Mourer-Chauvire (1988) identified two Lower and Middle Eocene, but apparently dis- species of mousebirds in Upper Eocene depos- appeared towards the end of the Eocene. The its of the Quercy (France) after which she U.S. Copyright Clearance Center Code Statement: 0021-8375/00/14101±085 $ 11.00/0 86 Journal fuÈr Ornithologie 141, 2000 named the new genus Primocolius (P. sigei Systematics Mourer-Chauvire 1988 and P. minor Mourer- Coliiformes Murie 1872 Chauvire 1988). Primocolius is known only Coliidae Swainson 1837 from a few bones (humerus, tarsometatarsus, proximal carpometacarpus). Apart from being similar to mousebirds in its All other mousebirds which have been re- overall osteology, the bird described in this ported so far are from younger deposits and study exhibits the following features listed by closely resemble the extant species. Ballmann Mayr & Peters (1998) as diagnostic for the Co- (1969) assigned some taxa which Milne-Ed- liiformes: pygostyle large, cristae cnemiales wards (1867±71) described from the Miocene and crista patellaris forming a continuous ridge of France to the Coliidae (ªPicusº archiaci, which circumscribes a groove on the cranial ªP. º consobrinus,ªLimnatornisº paludicola, side of the tibiotarsus, proximal phalanges of ªNecrornisº palustris), and also reported unde- fourth toe shortened. It can be assigned to the scribed colies from the Miocene of Germany Coliidae because of the presence of a well- (Ballmann, 1979). Rich & Haarhoff (1985) de- developed processus intermetacarpalis on the scribed an early Pliocene species from South carpometacarpus and a crescent-shaped de- Africa which they referred to the genus Colius. pression proximad the condylus dorsalis of the humerus (see Ballmann, 1969; Mayr & Peters, The specimen described here is not only the 1998). first Oligocene mousebird but also one of the most complete skeletons of early Tertiary Co- Oligocolius n. gen. liidae known so far. It was found in a Rupelian clay pit at Frauenweiler near Wiesloch (Baden- Type species: Oligocolius brevitarsus n. sp. WuÈrttemberg, Germany). A brief description Diagnosis: Oligocolius n. gen. has a more of the geology of this site has been given by strongly developed wing (larger proximal end Micklich & Parin (1996). According to these of humerus, relatively longer ulna and carpo- authors the sediments of Frauenweiler are mar- metacarpus) and a shorter tarsometatarsus than ine and were deposited during a transgression all other Coliidae known so far. caused by rifting activities. They have an abso- Differential diagnosis: Oligocolius n. gen. dif- lute age of approximately 32 million years and fers from: the coliiform bird described in this study is thus ± Chascacocolius Houde & Olson 1992 in: about 3 million years younger than the latest presence of a well developed processus inter- records of the genus Primocolius in the Quercy metacarpalis on carpometacarpus, ulna dis- (locality Escamps) which have an absolute age tinctly longer than humerus (ulna as long as of ca. 35 million years (Legendre & LeÂveÃque, humerus in Chascacocolius), foramen obtura- 1997). Although the deposits of Frauenweiler tum of pelvis closed. are known mainly because of their rich fish ± Masillacolius Mayr & Peters 1998 in: ulna fauna, in recent years several bird skeletons distinctly longer than humerus (ulna shorter have been found, most of which, however, than humerus in Masillacolius), humerus with belong to an odd procellariiform species with larger proximal end, tarsometatarsus much diving adaptations. The bird presented in this shorter, claws more slender. study is one of the few land birds, and also ± Primocolius Mourer-Chauvire 1988 in: hu- the first avian taxon described from Frauen- merus with wider proximal end, tarsometatar- weiler. sus with wider proximal end and medio- The fossil specimen was prepared according laterally narrower trochlea metatarsi IV. to the ªresin transfer methodº (e.g. Toombs & ± Colius Brisson 1760 and Urocolius Bona- Rixon, 1950; KuÈhne, 1961); the anatomical ter- parte 1854 in: humerus with wider proximal minology follows Baumel & Witmer (1993). end, ulna distinctly longer than humerus, car- G. Mayr ´ A new mousebird 87 pometacarpus relatively longer and with Diagnosis: Same as for genus. Oligocolius bre- straighter os metacarpale minus, scapula with vitarsus n. sp. has an overall size similar to re- wider shaft, crista cnemialis cranialis (proxi- cent colies. mal tibiotarsus) protruding less proximally, Etymology: The specific name is derived from pelvis with medio-laterally wider cranial part brevis (Lat.): short, and refers to the short tar- and synsacrum with distinct processus cost- sometatarsus of the species. ales, tarsometatarsus relatively shorter, tro- Description and comparison: chlea metatarsi II reaching farther distally. ± Vertebrae: At least eight praesacral vertebrae Etymology: The generic name refers to the and six isolated caudal vertebrae (including the Oligocene age of the taxon. pygostyle) can be counted. Details of the cervi- cal vertebrae are not visible and the thoracic vertebrae do not show taxonomically impor- Oligocolius brevitarsus n. sp. tant details. Four caudal vertebrae obviously (Figs. 1±4) lack processus ventrales whereas in recent co- Holotype: SMNS 80529/2 (Staatliches Mu- lies long processus ventrales are absent on only seum fuÈr Naturkunde Stuttgart, Germany) ± in- the two most cranial caudal vertebrae. The py- complete disarticulated skeleton lacking the gostyle lies across the caudal part of the pelvis, skull, most of the left wing and the left foot. it bears a long processus dorsalis and also exhi- Type locality: Frauenweiler south of Wiesloch bits small processus laterales. (Baden-WuÈrttemberg, Germany), clay pit of ± Trachea: Several ossified tracheal rings are the Bott-Eder GmbH (ªGrube Unterfeldº). scattered over the slab. Type horizon: Rupelian, Oligocene (see Mick- ± Coracoid: Both the left and the right cora- lich & Parin, 1996). coid are only poorly preserved. The internal margin of the sternal end bears a distinct con- Referred specimens: none. vex flange (like in the Sandcoleidae and Chas- Dimensions (maximum length along longitu- cacocolius), the angulus medialis is very short dinal axis, in mm): Humerus: ca. 24.5 (r); ulna: and does not protrude medially. The poorly 27.2 (r); carpometacarpus: 16.8 (r); femur: preserved proximal end of the left coracoid is 21.6 (r); tibiotarsus: 27.6 (l); tarsometatarsus: visible above the proximal end of the left tibio- 15.8 (r). tarsus; not many details can be recognized but Fig. 1. Oligocolius brevitarsus n. gen. n. sp., Holotype (SMNS 80529/ 2). Covered with ammonium chloride to enhance contrast. Scale bar = 2 cm. Abb. 1. Oligocolius brevitarsus n. gen. n. sp., Holotypus (SMNS 80529/2). Zur KontrasterhoÈhung mit Ammoniumchlorid bedampft. Maû- stab = 2 cm. 88 Journal fuÈr Ornithologie 141, 2000 Fig. 2. Interpretative drawing of figure 1. Abbreviations: LCM ± left carpometacarpus, LCO ± left coracoid, LSC ± left scapula, LTT ± left tibiotarsus, PEL ± pelvis,
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