Land Connectivity Changes and Global Cooling Shaped the Colonization

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Land Connectivity Changes and Global Cooling Shaped the Colonization Journal of Biogeography (J. Biogeogr.) (2015) ORIGINAL Land connectivity changes and global ARTICLE cooling shaped the colonization history and diversification of New World quail (Aves: Galliformes: Odontophoridae) Peter A. Hosner1*, Edward L. Braun1,2,3 and Rebecca T. Kimball1,2,3 1Department of Biology, University of Florida, ABSTRACT Gainesville, FL, USA, 2Genetics Institute, Aim Range disjunctions are frequent in birds, but the relative roles of vicari- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA, 3 ance and long-distance dispersal in producing them are debated. Odontophorid Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA quail are widespread in tropical and temperate habitats in the Americas, yet recent phylogenetic studies support the view that they are sister to sub-Saharan African Ptilopachus rather than the widespread Phasianidae as formerly believed. To understand how this 10,000 km range disjunction arose in rela- tively non-vagile birds, we reconstructed colonization history and diversifica- tion of odontophorids with respect to hypothesized dry-land connections between continents (North Atlantic, Beringian, Panamanian) that would have facilitated faunal exchange. Location Africa, Nearctic and Neotropics. Methods We inferred a fossil-calibrated odontophorid phylogeny from DNA sequences (three mitochondrial genes and eight nuclear introns) and modelled ancestral ranges with six probabilistic biogeographical models. We used the Akaike information criterion (AIC) to select the best-fit biogeographical model. Results Ptilopachus and New World quail shared an Old World ancestor c. 32 Ma. During this period, Beringia connected the Nearctic and Palaearctic, and global temperatures were high, such that presence of temperate organisms at high latitudes and direct dispersal across land connections were feasible. The extant New World quail began diversifying in Central America c. 18 Ma; tim- ing estimates and ancestral range reconstructions support the hypothesis that New World quail colonized and diversified in South America following closure of the Isthmus of Panama. Main conclusions The Africa/New World range disjunction between New World quail and Ptilopachus is the result of changes in Earth and climate his- tory, combined with range expansion and diversification in the New World, and range contraction in the Old World. We find no evidence for overwater *Correspondence: Peter A. Hosner, dispersal in New World quail. Department of Biology, PO Box 118525, Keywords University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. Beringia, climate change, dispersal, faunal interchange, Isthmus of Panama, E-mail: hosner@ufl.edu phylogeny, Ptilopachus, range disjunction, vicariance. (Wiley, 1988; de Queiroz, 2005); that is, does long-distance INTRODUCTION dispersal or ancient vicariance produce these distributions? Organisms with limited dispersal capacity often exhibit Beyond understanding historical biogeography, understand- widely disjunct distributions. Ideas about the evolutionary ing the relative roles of dispersal and vicariance in creating processes that produce range disjunctions date to the foun- disjunct distributions is critical to understanding macroevo- dations of biogeography (Nelson, 1978; Sanmartın et al., lutionary patterns, such as geographical disparity in diversifi- 2001) and are central to the dispersal–vicariance debate cation rates (Rabosky, 2009). If driven by dispersal, range ª 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jbi 1 doi:10.1111/jbi.12555 P. A. Hosner et al. disjunctions are indicative of range expansion and increased connected Asia to North America (Simpson, 1947; Hopkins, potential for diversification. Alternatively, if driven by 1967; Marincovich & Gladenkov, 1999; Brikiatis, 2014). The ancient vicariance, disjunct distributions are relictual, and history and timing of North Atlantic land bridges is complex, indicative of range contraction and extinction. confusing and not wholly understood (e.g. Denk et al., 2011; In birds, continental range disjunctions are frequent in Brikiatis, 2014). In general, geological evidence supports the higher taxa. Common patterns include groups that are view that eastern North America and Europe were largely diverse in Afrotropical, Indomalayan and Neotropical regions connected until at least 55 Ma via the De Geer Route, and (e.g. barbets, Capitonidae; and trogons, Trogoniformes; later the Thulean Route (Brikiatis, 2014). Subaerial connec- Moyle, 2004; Hosner et al., 2010). In other groups, range tions established across Beringia around 100 Ma facilitated disjunctions are coupled with disparity in diversity, with faunal turnover until the late Miocene (Hopkins, 1967; Mar- species-rich clades inhabiting one continent and ‘relict’ incovich & Gladenkov, 1999; Brikiatis, 2014) when continu- lineages in another (Moyle et al., 2006, 2012; Reddy & ous land connections were interrupted by elevated sea levels Cracraft, 2007). There are similarly notable continental range (3–7.5 Ma, Marincovich & Gladenkov, 1999; 10–12 Ma, disjunctions documented in the fossil record (Mayr, 2004; Hopkins, 1967). From the late Pliocene until the present, Ksepka & Clarke, 2010; Nesbitt et al., 2011). land connections were periodically restored during glacial Birds are justly viewed as vagile organisms, and long-dis- maxima, the most recent of which ended c. 10 ka (Marinco- tance dispersal is a cause of range disjunction in some vich & Gladenkov, 1999; Miller, 2005). groups and species (Clegg et al., 2002; Billerman et al., Distributions of tropical/temperate organisms occurring 2011). However, despite having powered flight, birds fre- across high latitudes in Europe, Asia and North America in quently evolve limited ability to disperse to and colonize the warm early Tertiary would later be restricted to lower novel environs. In continental systems, tropical forest under- latitudes owing to massive global cooling events (first in the storey birds are often poor dispersers adapted to continuous early/middle Oligocene, and later in the late Miocene). Thus, habitats (Moore et al., 2008; Burney & Brumfield, 2009). climate-driven vicariance could widely explain avian distribu- Reduction of dispersal is considered advantageous for land tional disjunctions between the New World and the Old birds in island systems where dispersal ability may have World. Coincident with global cooling in the late Miocene, extreme fitness costs (Cody & Overton, 1996; Moyle et al., land connections initiated between Africa and the Mideast 2009). An extreme example of reduced dispersal is complete allowed dispersal and faunal interchange between Eurasia loss of flight, which has evolved multiple times in avian and Africa (Bibi, 2011). Similar faunal exchange occurred groups as diverse as rails (Rallidae), ducks (Anatidae) and between North and South America across the Isthmus of grebes (Podicipedidae) (Livezey, 1989; Fulton et al., 2012; Panama, in two pulses. An initial, minor pulse was the result Kirchman, 2012). of a brief or near (as a peninsula or archipelago) formation Avian biogeographers have historically favoured vicariant of an isthmus in the late Miocene (8–9 Ma, Coates et al., explanations for range disjunctions, particularly in pan-tropi- 2004; Montes et al., 2015). The second, major pulse was the cal groups. This view was fuelled by putative Gondwanan result of complete and permanent isthmus closure 3–4Ma distributions of poorly dispersing groups like the flightless (Webb, 1976; Weir et al., 2009; Leigh et al., 2013; Barker ratites (Cracraft, 2001). Molecular phylogenies now reject a et al., 2015). Gondwanaland origin for ratites, and instead support the Galliformes (landfowl) are almost worldwide in distribu- hypothesis that flighted ratite ancestors colonized continents tion, yet are among the least vagile orders of flying birds. across marine barriers, followed by convergent losses of flight There are two exceptions to this generalization. Megapodes (Smith et al., 2013; Mitchell et al., 2014). However, more (which are sister to all other Galliformes) are extremely vag- recent vicariance-driven disjunction remains a plausible ile and multiple lineages have colonized islands across the explanation for avian groups distributed across Africa, Asia Indo-Pacific region (Harris et al., 2014). Also, small-bodied and the New World. Facilitated by changing land connectiv- species in or related to the genus Coturnix (Old World quail) ity and climates, now-disjunct representatives of tropical/ are frequent on oceanic islands and have crossed Wallace’s temperate groups of Laurasian origin could conceivably and Lydekker’s lines. They are often nomadic or capable of occupy all continents except Australia and Antarctica without trans-continental seasonal migration (Johnsgard, 1988). Out- ever having crossed a marine barrier. side of megapodes and Old World quail there are no clear Land connections existed between the Palaearctic and examples of Galliformes occurring naturally on oceanic Nearctic through much of the Tertiary (reviewed in Brikiatis, islands (those without recent mainland connections during 2014). This extended connectivity, in combination with mild low sea-level stands, or connected by arctic sea ice in the global temperatures (Zachos, 2001), permitted broad distri- unique case of ptarmigans, Lagopus), suggesting that most butions of tropical and temperate organisms across Europe, Galliformes are incapable of crossing marine barriers. Based Asia and North America in the Palaeocene
Recommended publications
  • Onetouch 4.0 Scanned Documents
    / Chapter 2 THE FOSSIL RECORD OF BIRDS Storrs L. Olson Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC. I. Introduction 80 II. Archaeopteryx 85 III. Early Cretaceous Birds 87 IV. Hesperornithiformes 89 V. Ichthyornithiformes 91 VI. Other Mesozojc Birds 92 VII. Paleognathous Birds 96 A. The Problem of the Origins of Paleognathous Birds 96 B. The Fossil Record of Paleognathous Birds 104 VIII. The "Basal" Land Bird Assemblage 107 A. Opisthocomidae 109 B. Musophagidae 109 C. Cuculidae HO D. Falconidae HI E. Sagittariidae 112 F. Accipitridae 112 G. Pandionidae 114 H. Galliformes 114 1. Family Incertae Sedis Turnicidae 119 J. Columbiformes 119 K. Psittaciforines 120 L. Family Incertae Sedis Zygodactylidae 121 IX. The "Higher" Land Bird Assemblage 122 A. Coliiformes 124 B. Coraciiformes (Including Trogonidae and Galbulae) 124 C. Strigiformes 129 D. Caprimulgiformes 132 E. Apodiformes 134 F. Family Incertae Sedis Trochilidae 135 G. Order Incertae Sedis Bucerotiformes (Including Upupae) 136 H. Piciformes 138 I. Passeriformes 139 X. The Water Bird Assemblage 141 A. Gruiformes 142 B. Family Incertae Sedis Ardeidae 165 79 Avian Biology, Vol. Vlll ISBN 0-12-249408-3 80 STORES L. OLSON C. Family Incertae Sedis Podicipedidae 168 D. Charadriiformes 169 E. Anseriformes 186 F. Ciconiiformes 188 G. Pelecaniformes 192 H. Procellariiformes 208 I. Gaviiformes 212 J. Sphenisciformes 217 XI. Conclusion 217 References 218 I. Introduction Avian paleontology has long been a poor stepsister to its mammalian counterpart, a fact that may be attributed in some measure to an insufRcien- cy of qualified workers and to the absence in birds of heterodont teeth, on which the greater proportion of the fossil record of mammals is founded.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Galliformes and Their Presence in the Carpathian Basin
    Ornis Hungarica 2019. 27(2): 142–174. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2019-0021 Evolution of Galliformes and their presence in the Carpathian Basin Jenő (Eugen) KESSLER Received: April 23, 2019 – Revised: May 13, 2019 – Accepted: May 15, 2019 Kessler, J. (E.) 2019. Evolution of Galliformes and their presence in the Carpathian Basin. – Or- nis Hungarica 27(2): 142–174. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2019-0021 Abstract Due to the number of specimen, their size and weaker flight capabilities they are one of the favorite preys of furred and feathered carnivores. Due to this factor quite a number of skeletal fragments remained and fossilized over millions of years, especially in caves. Their presence in Europe can be traced back to the Eocene, but the majority of finds come from the Neogene and the Quaternary. In the Car- pathian Basin they are known since the beginning of the Neogene. The text is complemented with the bibliogra- phy concerning the fossilized material, one figure and six table. Keywords: Europe, Carpathian Basin, evolution, Galliformes, grouses Összefoglalás Egyedszámuk, méretük, életmódjuk, és gyengébb repülési képességük következtében kedvenc prédaállataik a tollas és szőrmés ragadozóknak. Az előbbieknek köszönhetően így elég sok vázrészük fennma- radt és fosszilizálódhatott az évmilliók folyamán, főleg a barlangi lelőhelyeken. Európai jelenlétüket már az eo- céntól követni lehet, de a leletek többsége a neogénből és a kvarterből származik. A Kárpát-medencéből a neo- gén elejétől ismertek. A szöveget kiegészíti a fosszilis anyagot felölelő irodalomjegyzék, egy ábra és hat táblázat. Kulcsszavak: Európa, Kárpát-medence, evolúció, tyúkfélék, fajdok Department of Paleontology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Hungary, e-mail: [email protected] Introduction Their dimensions vary (sexual dimorphism is a usual characteristic), they are herbivores or omnivores.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution Dynamics of the Strigiformes in the Mediterranean Islands with the Description of Aegolius Martae N. Sp
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Institutional Research Information System University of Turin ARTICLE IN PRESS Quaternary International 182 (2008) 80–89 The evolution dynamics of the Strigiformes in the Mediterranean islands with the description of Aegolius martae n. sp. (Aves, Strigidae) Ã Marco Pavia Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia, Via Valperga Caluso 35, I-10125 Torino, Italy Available online 14 June 2007 Abstract Living and fossil owls (Aves, Strigiformes) constitute an important group for understanding the evolutionary dynamics of birds in island environments. After their different trends in island evolution, the Strigiformes can be seen as a representative of insular adaptations of birds as a whole. In fact they respond quickly to isolation with deep changes in body size, including dwarfism and gigantism, and allometric variations, such as reduction of wings, lengthening of hindlimbs and strengthening of digits and claws. The only exception is the loss of the ability to fly, which has never been recorded in Strigiformes. In this paper I report on all the endemic owls found in Mediterranean Islands, both living and fossil, in order to emphasize trends in insular evolution and the relationships between the different species sharing a certain island. The description of Aegolius martae n. sp. completes the guild of endemic Strigiformes of the early Middle Pleistocene of Sicily and allows to use Sicily as the best example of a biogeographical island type with intermediate characteristics between the oceanic and the continental ones, with the presence of some non-flying mammals, but the lack of terrestrial carnivores.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Gastrolith Function with Implications for Fossil Vertebrates and a Revised Classification
    A review of gastrolith function with implications for fossil vertebrates and a revised classification OLIVER WINGS Wings, O. 2007. A review of gastrolith function with implications for fossil vertebrates and a revised classification. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52 (1): 1–16. Misleading interpretations of “gastroliths” in fossil taxa have complicated the use of this term in palaeontology. This pa− per reviews the definitions and ascribed functions of gastroliths. According to the suggested definition, gastroliths are hard objects within the digestive tract of animals—without specification of the mechanisms that are responsible for their accumulation. To further improve definitions, the origin−based terms “bio−gastrolith”, “patho−gastrolith”, and “geo− gastrolith” are introduced. The term “exolith” is introduced for isolated clasts with a possible history as geo−gastroliths. Hypotheses about the function of stomach stones in fossil and extant taxa are reviewed, discussed and supplemented with new research. Trituration and mixing of foodstuff are the generally accepted functions of gastroliths in many vertebrates, including birds. In contrast, ballast provided by swallowed stones is considered to be of limited importance for buoyancy in aquatic animals. Other functional hypotheses include mineral supply and storage, stomach cleaning, maintenance of a beneficial microbial gut flora, destruction of parasites and alleviation of hunger. Accidental ingestion of sediment, either by being mistaken for prey, by being attached to it, during playing or due to pathological behaviour, is considered to be common. Different functions may overlap in various taxa. Key words: Gastroliths, stomach stones, gastrolith function, palaeobiology, ingesta, vertebrates, digestion, digestive tract. Oliver Wings [[email protected]], Institut für Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 8, D−53115 Bonn, Germany; present address: Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Tübingen, Sigwartstr.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Tropicbird (Aves: Phaethontidae) from the Late Miocene of Austria
    ©Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 98 A lSI - 154 Wien, Februar 1997 A new tropicbird (Aves: Phaethontidae) from the late Miocene of Austria by Jffil MLfKOVSKYI (With 1 textfigure) Manuscript received on February 26'", 1996 Abstract A new tropicbird species, Heliadornis paratethydicus, is described from the late Miocene of Vosendorf in Austria. It is the second record of the family Phaethontidae in the Tertiary of the world. Keywords: Aves, Phaethontidae, Miocene, Austria. Zusammenfassung Eine neue Tropikvogelart, Heliadornis paratethydicus, wird aus dem Jung-Miozan von Vosendorf, Oster- reich, beschrieben. Es handelt sich urn den zweiten Beleg .der Familie Phaethontidae im Tertiar der Welt. Schliisselworter: Aves, Phaethontidae, Miozan, Osterreich. Introduction The tropicbirds (family Phaethontidae) are marine, plunge-diving birds which inhabit all tropical oceans. Their fossil record is extremely meagre, going back only to the middle Miocene (OLSON1985b). In this paper, I will describe a new tropic bird from the late Miocene (MN 10) locality Vosendorf in Niederosterreich, Austria (48.07 N, 16.19 E). The locality Vosendorf (Brunn- Vosendorf) was excavated in the 1930s and 1940s. It yielded numerous remains of vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates (PAPP& THENIUS1954, PAPP1985), but only two avian bones were known previously (THENIUS1954). The latter two bones are deposited in the Institute of Paleontology of the University of Wien, Austria. In 1989, I discovered in the Department of Geology and Paleontology of the Museum of Natural History in Wien, Austria, a third avian bone from Vosendorf, which is identified here as a new tropic bird species. The stratigraphy of the Neogene used herein follows MEIN (1990).
    [Show full text]
  • FROM the LOWER MIOCENE of SAINT-GE´ RAND-LE-PUY (ALLIER, FRANCE) by URSULA B
    [Palaeontology, Vol. 48, Part 6, 2005, pp. 1331–1350] REVISION OF THE PHASIANIDS (AVES: GALLIFORMES) FROM THE LOWER MIOCENE OF SAINT-GE´ RAND-LE-PUY (ALLIER, FRANCE) by URSULA B. GO¨ HLICH* and CE´ CILE MOURER-CHAUVIRE´ *Department fu¨r Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Sektion Pala¨ontologie, Richard-Wagner-Strasse 10, D-80333 Mu¨nchen, Germany; e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected] UMR 5125, Pale´oenvironnements et Pale´obiosphe`re, Universite´ Claude Bernard – Lyon 1, 27–43 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France; e-mail: [email protected] Typescript received 16 January 2004; accepted in revised form 1 October 2004 Abstract: A revision of the phasianids (Aves, Galliformes) whereby Palaeortyx intermedia was recognized to be a junior from the Lower Miocene of St-Ge´rand-le-Puy (Allier, France) synonym of Palaeortyx prisca and is synonymized with the has been carried out. Palaeortyx brevipes Milne-Edwards, latter here. These results are supported by investigations on 1869, Palaeortyx gallica Milne-Edwards, 1869, Palaeortyx variability statistics on some recent quails and partridges phasianoides Milne-Edwards, 1869, and Palaeortyx intermedia (Coturnix, Perdix, Alectoris). Comparisons with fossil phasia- Ballmann, 1969 have been known before from this locality. nids from Quercy, Sansan, and La Grive (all France) and St-Ge´rand-le-Puy is the type locality of the first three species. Wintershof-West (Germany) are made. New morphological The four species of Palaeortyx represented at St-Ge´rand- and size differences between Palaeortyx and some species of le-Puy are distinguished by their size.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Messinian Mollusks and Vertebrates from Moncucco Torinese, North-Western Italy
    Palaeontologia Electronica palaeo-electronica.org Late Messinian mollusks and vertebrates from Moncucco Torinese, north-western Italy. Paleoecological and paleoclimatological implications Simone Colombero, David M. Alba, Carmine D’Amico, Massimo Delfino, Daniela Esu, Piero Giuntelli, Mathias Harzhauser, Paul P.A. Mazza, Michele Mosca, Thomas A. Neubauer, Giulio Pavia, Marco Pavia, Andrea Villa, and Giorgio Carnevale ABSTRACT The systematic analysis of more than 20,000 fossils (Vertebrata and Mollusca), recovered from the post-evaporitic Messinian (5.41–5.33 Ma) succession of Moncucco Torinese (NW Italy), resulted in the identification of 90 vertebrate and 65 mollusk taxa that provide additional information about the paleoecological context and the paleoen- vironmental settings of NW Italy slightly before the Mio-Pliocene boundary. Our analy- ses indicate a landscape dominated by open woodlands within a mosaic environment also including closed canopy forests, grasslands, rocky outcrops and limited water edges. The wide spectrum of habitats may have had a prominent role in determining the high paleobiodiversity observed in the paleocommunity of Moncucco Torinese. Slight variations in the abundances of the most common rodent species over the inves- tigated succession are probably related to local changes in the paleolandscape. From a paleoclimatic point of view, the overall information provided by the fauna indicates mesic conditions in a subtropical climate, which is also consistent with the interpreta- tion derived from paleobotanical and sedimentological analyses for the latest Messin- ian of Northern Italy. Simone Colombero. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino, Italy. [email protected] David M. Alba. Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, Carrer de les Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Galliformes and Their Presence in the Carpathian Basin
    Ornis Hungarica 2019. 27(2): 142–174. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2019-0021 Evolution of Galliformes and their presence in the Carpathian Basin Jenő (Eugen) KESSLER Received: April 23, 2019 – Revised: May 13, 2019 – Accepted: May 15, 2019 Kessler, J. (E.) 2019. Evolution of Galliformes and their presence in the Carpathian Basin. – Or- nis Hungarica 27(2): 142–174. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2019-0021 Abstract Due to the number of specimen, their size and weaker flight capabilities they are one of the favorite preys of furred and feathered carnivores. Due to this factor quite a number of skeletal fragments remained and fossilized over millions of years, especially in caves. Their presence in Europe can be traced back to the Eocene, but the majority of finds come from the Neogene and the Quaternary. In the Car- pathian Basin they are known since the beginning of the Neogene. The text is complemented with the bibliogra- phy concerning the fossilized material, one figure and six table. Keywords: Europe, Carpathian Basin, evolution, Galliformes, grouses Összefoglalás Egyedszámuk, méretük, életmódjuk, és gyengébb repülési képességük következtében kedvenc prédaállataik a tollas és szőrmés ragadozóknak. Az előbbieknek köszönhetően így elég sok vázrészük fennma- radt és fosszilizálódhatott az évmilliók folyamán, főleg a barlangi lelőhelyeken. Európai jelenlétüket már az eo- céntól követni lehet, de a leletek többsége a neogénből és a kvarterből származik. A Kárpát-medencéből a neo- gén elejétől ismertek. A szöveget kiegészíti a fosszilis anyagot felölelő irodalomjegyzék, egy ábra és hat táblázat. Kulcsszavak: Európa, Kárpát-medence, evolúció, tyúkfélék, fajdok Department of Paleontology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Hungary, e-mail: [email protected] Introduction Their dimensions vary (sexual dimorphism is a usual characteristic), they are herbivores or omnivores.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil and Subfossil Bird Remains and Faunas from the Carpathian Basin
    Ornis Hungarica 2014. 22(2): 65–125. DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2014-0019 Fossil and subfossil bird remains and faunas from the Carpathian Basin Jenő (eugen) Kessler Jenő (Eugen) Kessler 2014. Fossil and subfossil bird remains and faunas from the Carpathian Basin. – Ornis Hungarica 22(2): 65–125. Abstract The author summarizes the knowledge of fossil and subfossil bird life from the Car- pathian Basin, of all geological ages, site by site. After a historical overview, he presents the Mesozoic, Tertiary and Quaternary bird fauna, based on a holistic reference material consisting of 196 titles indi- cated in the bibliography, including papers in English (64), Hungarian (50), German (46), Romanian (26), Cro- atian (9) and Polish (1) languages. The text is supplemented with maps of fossiliferous sites from different ages and a list from 341 paleontological and archaeological sites on species of the Carpathian Basin, respectively. The number of taxa reaches 845, including 189 extinct taxa (two orders, four families, nine genera – five ichnotaxa of which (154 species, five ichnotaxa and 10 subspecies) were described from the Carpathian Basin, primarily. Most significant records include the Mesozoic taxa (Eurolimnornis, Palaeocursornis, Elopteryx), the new Neo- gene songbirds species and the presence of predecessors of recent European grouses, Bustards and Corvidae spe- cies from the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene in the Carpathian Basin. Keywords: Carpathian Basin, paleo-ornithological studies, fossil sites, evolution Összefoglalás A szerző összefoglalja a Kárpát-medence fosszilis és szubfosszilis madárvilágáról szóló ismere- teket, mind koronként, mind lelőhelyenként. A történelmi visszatekintés után ismerteti a mezozoikumi, a har- mad- és negyedidőszaki lelőhelyek madárfaunáját egy teljességre törekvő, angol (64), magyar (50), német (46), román (26), horvát (9) és lengyel (1) nyelvű, 196 tételből álló hivatkozáslista alapján.
    [Show full text]
  • A Synopsis of the Fossil Rallidae
    n, < A SYNOPSIS OF THE FOSSIL RALLIDAE By STORRS L. OLSON Reprinted with a separate bibliography from Chapter 5 of RAILS OF THE WORLD A Monograph of the Family Rallidae By S. DILLON RIPLEY DAVID R. GODINE, Publisher • Boston • Massachusetts March 1977 n A SYNOPSIS OF THE FOSSIL RALLIDAE By STORRS L. OLSON Reprinted with a separate bibliography from Chapter j of RAILS OF THE WORLD A Monograph of the Family Rallidae By S. DILLON RIPLEY DAVID R. GODINE, Publisher • Boston • Massachusetts March 1977 5. A SYNOPSIS OF THE FOSSIL RALLIDAE Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre Wherein we saw thee quietly inurnd, Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616) Hamlet, Act i, Scene 4 BY STORRS L. OLSON No ACCOUNT OF THE RALLIDAE could properly be said to be complete without a consider- ation of the fossil and subfossil species of the family, particularly since these include some of its most bizarre and divergent members. In this chapter I have attempted to assemble and condense the primary literature concerning all the extinct forms of rails for which there are no known study skins, with the exception of the extinct rail of Tahiti, discussed elsewhere in this volume. The chapter falls into two main parts — the first treating of the more ancient forms of rails from continental deposits, usually known from a few bones or fragments only, and the second dealing with recently exterminated species from oceanic islands, most of which are represented by fairly complete skeletons.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter - Nº 22, October 2008
    SOCIETY OF AVIAN PALEONTOLOGY AND EVOLUTION - Newsletter - nº 22, October 2008 Secretary: GERALD MAYR, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany e-mail: [email protected] MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Colleagues, We live in an era of a tremendous accumulation of new knowledge about avian evolution thanks to the many, The 7th International Meeting of the Society of often spectacular, new bird fossils, as well as to a Avian Paleontology and Evolution in Sydney has just renewed interest in studying systematics relationships come to an end. It was truly a great meeting. I by analyzing more and hopefully better data (molecular congratulate the members that had the possibility to and morphological) with methodologies that while at attend and I want to extend the thanks from the their best reduce subjectivity and produce more Executive Council to the Australian Museum of Natural transparent results. Numerous of scholars and History, which hosted the meeting and especially to amateurs are eager to learn more about the advances Walter Boles and Jaynia Sladek who took care of most within our field. I believe that SAPE should provide the of the practical arrangements. Abstracts of the many meeting place for all these people. By that I also mean interesting talks and posters can be found at the SAPE that SAPE should actively seek members among webpage: molecular systematists, neornithologists (particularly http://www2.nrm.se/ve/birds/sape/sape001.html.en those studying developmental and functional I will take this opportunity to share with you some morphology in birds), and other.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstracts 4Th SAPE Meeting 2004
    1 SIXTH INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF AVIAN PALEONTOLOGY AND EVOLUTION Quillan, France 28th September – 3rd October, 2004 Sponsored by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5561 (Paléontologie analytique, Université de Bourgogne), and Association Dinosauria. ABSTRACTS Edited by Eric Buffetaut and Jean Le Loeuff 2 SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF SOUTH AMERICAN FOSSIL PENGUINS (SPHENISCIFORMES) Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche1,2 and Claudia Patricia Tambussi1,3 1Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina; 2CIC. ([email protected]);3CONICET. ([email protected]). A phylogenetic and morphometric analysis of South American fossil penguins has been done using skull and appendicular skeleton characters. Our current studies lead us to identify two groups substantially equivalent to those proposed originally by Simpson though abandoned later by himself after examining fossil New Zealand penguins: Palaeospheniscinae and Paraptenodytinae, and a third group belonging to a new subfamily Madrynornithinae. However, we have reevaluated both subfamilies, and when necessary we have amended the respective diagnoses. Only nine of the 35 previously named species are recognized, therefore the diversity would not have been so high as it was supposed. Herein we propose the following systematic arrangement: (1) PALAEOSPHENISCINAE Simpson, 1946 (Early Miocene of Argentina and Middle Miocene- Pliocene of Chile and Peru), characterized by humerus with a bipartite fossa tricipitalis, a high crus dorsale fossae, a laterocraneal fossa over the tuberculum ventrale and a sulcus ligamentaris transversus divided in two parts; tarsometatarsus with elongation index higher than two, a flattened metatarsal II, and a foramen vasculare proximale medialis only open in cranial side, including Eretiscus tonni (Simpson, 1981), Palaeospheniscus bergi Moreno and Mercerat, 1891, P.
    [Show full text]