DOCSLIB.ORG

Exceptionally Well-Preserved Quaternary Fossils from Sawmill Sink Blue Hole, Abaco, the Bahamas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Exceptionally Well-Preserved Quaternary Fossils from Sawmill Sink Blue Hole, Abaco, the Bahamas Mississippi State University Scholars Junction Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 5-1-2010 Exceptionally well-preserved quaternary fossils from Sawmill Sink blue hole, Abaco, The Bahamas Nancy Ann Albury Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td Recommended Citation Albury, Nancy Ann, "Exceptionally well-preserved quaternary fossils from Sawmill Sink blue hole, Abaco, The Bahamas" (2010). Theses and Dissertations. 2129. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/2129 This Graduate Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-PRESERVED QUATERNARY FOSSILS FROM SAWMILL SINK BLUE HOLE, ABACO, THE BAHAMAS By Nancy Ann Albury A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geosciences in the Department of Geosciences Mississippi State, Mississippi May 2010 Copyright 64BMay 2010 By Nancy Ann Albury EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-PRESERVED QUATERNARY FOSSILS FROM SAWMILL SINK BLUE HOLE, ABACO, THE BAHAMAS By Nancy Ann Albury Approved: _________________________________ _________________________________ John E. Mylroie Chris P. Dewey Professor of Geology Associate Professor of Geology (Director of Thesis) (Committee member and Graduate Coordinator) _________________________________ _________________________________ John C. Rodgers III Gary L. Myers Associate Professor of Geography Dean of College of Arts and Sciences (Committee member) Name: Nancy Ann Albury Date of Degree: 64BMay 2010 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Geosciences Major Professor: Dr. John E. Mylroie Title of Study: EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-PRESERVED QUATERNARY FOSSILS FROM SAWMILL SINK BLUE HOLE, ABACO, THE BAHAMAS Pages in Study: 180 Candidate for Degree of Master of Science A diverse assemblage of exquisitely-preserved fossil animals and plants were collected from Sawmill Sink blue hole in Abaco, Bahamas. More than 40 species have been identified including extinct tortoise, an extant crocodile, and birds that no longer live in The Bahamas. This study addresses the mechanisms that preserve fossils in blue holes and discusses paleoecological implications from faunal diversity and sediment composition. Blue holes are water-filled caves with surface openings that may trap animals and surface-driven vegetation. In Sawmill Sink the talus cone within the halocline acts as a substrate on which organics collect that drive microbe ecology. Their byproducts, hydrogen sulfide and anoxia, inhibit biological destruction and delay necrolysis. Low tidal flow and quiescent water conditions further enhance stability of the depositional environment. In addition, subaerial conditions during glacial lowstands allowed owls to roost; their deposits formed a rich assemblage of small fossil vertebrates. Keywords: blue hole, Abaco, Bahamas, fossil vertebrates, tortoise, crocodile DEDICATION To my husband, Michael, who supported and encouraged me through it all. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been possible without the help and guidance of an extraordinary team. My deepest thanks go to Brian Kakuk, who found the first fossils and has dedicated his life to the science of cave diving. Brian truly shares my passion for caving and the excitement of discovery. I could not have done any of this without his participation, diving skills, and attention to details. My heartfelt thanks go to Keith Tinker for his unwavering support and enthusiasm. It is only through his guidance that we have come so far in so little time, and that which has made this study relevant to all Bahamians. I would like to thank my colleagues and the Board of The Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation / The National Museum of The Bahamas (AMMC), who financially supported my efforts and are largely responsible for the ultimate success of this project. I would like to thank my close friends and mentors; Dick Franz for his guidance and for sharing so many ideas that have led to great things; Gary Morgan for sharing his extraordinary knowledge of West Indian paleontology and for making me laugh a lot; Dave Steadman for his invaluable support, both in Florida and with the collections in Abaco, and for being there when I needed solid advice about a myriad of things. I am indebted to Dr. John Mylroie for making this degree possible through the TIG Program at MSU and deeply appreciate his guidance through the entire program. Especially, I thank him for pushing me to write the thesis, help me organize it and iii proofread it multiple times and his genuine interest in my success. I would also like to thank Joan Mylroie for allowing me to stay in their home and for bringing me extra blankets during those cold Mississippi nights. Thanks to Jon Sumrall for helping educate me in the world of Excel. Special thanks go to my committee members who took time to proofread this manuscript and give me some very good advice. Thanks also to the MSU Distance Learning Program Coordinators who allowed me to be MSU’s first distance- learning thesis student. In The Bahamas, many people have enthusiastically supported this project. First and foremost, thanks to Lynn Gape who directed me to Keith Tinker and The AMMC; Kristin Williams, Anita Knowles, Olivia Patterson, and D’Shan Maycock at Friends of the Environment; David Knowles for helping me with permits, exports, and much more; Dan Drummond for his countless hours and enthusiasm for finding caves and blue holes with the best “bush tool” ever, his R44 helicopter, and to Janie Drummond for encouraging him to help me out; Kenny Broad for the fun times making the National Geographic film; Wes Skiles for teaching me so much about photographing the dark lives remipedes; Curt Bowen for making the first maps and photographs; and Tom Iliffe for allowing me to use his water quality data to interpret the depositional environment. Special thanks go to my family for letting me pursue my passions, Michael, Brian, and Meredith; my parents; my brother Tom and his wife, Joanna; and my niece Susan, who also formatted the first editions of this thesis. In addition, research funding, permission, and field assistance were provided by The Antiquities, Monuments, and Museums Corporation (AMMC), Friends of the Environment, Bahamas National Trust, Florida Museum of Natural History, National iv Geographic Society, New Mexico Museum of Natural History, The Wildlife Conservation Society, John D. and Catherine C. MacArthur Foundation via John Thorbjarnarson. Finally I would like to acknowledge the late John Thorbjarnason; his passion for crocodiles and the extraordinary contribution to the study of the Cuban Crocodiles in Cuba and The Bahamas will be a part of this study so long as there are crocodile fossils to be found. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 1.1 Geography, Climate, Vegetation ............................................................3 1.2 Geology ..................................................................................................9 1.3 Hydrology ............................................................................................13 1.4 Karst and Caves ...................................................................................15 1.5 Blue Holes ............................................................................................17 1.6 Microbial Communities .......................................................................24 1.7 Living Biology .....................................................................................25 1.8 Previous Investigations of Vertebrate Fossil Assemblages in The Bahamas ............................................................................25 1.8.1 Crocodiles ......................................................................................27 1.8.2 Tortoise ..........................................................................................30 1.8.3 Fossil Amphibians and Reptiles .....................................................31 1.8.4 Mammals........................................................................................32 1.8.5 Birds ...............................................................................................34 1.9 Vertebrate Fossil Assemblages from Bahamian Blue Holes ...............35 II. SITE DESCRIPTIONS ....................................................................................37 2.1 What Makes Sawmill Sink Unique? ....................................................37 2.2 Sawmill Sink ........................................................................................39 2.3 Lost Reel ..............................................................................................43
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Book of Abstracts IB2019
    BOOK OF ABSTRACTS Université de la Réunion Campus du Moufia 2 Island Biology Third International Conference on Island Ecology, Evolution and Conservation 8-13 July 2019 University of La R´eunion Saint Denis, France Book of Abstracts Editors: Olivier Flores Claudine Ah-Peng Nicholas Wilding Description of contents This document contains the collection of abstracts describing the research works presented at the third international conference on island ecology, evolution and conservation, Island Biology 2019, held in Saint Denis (La R´eunion,8-13 July 2019). In the following order, the different parts of this document concern Plenary sessions, Symposia, Regular sessions, and Poster presentations organized in thematic sections. The last part of the document consists of an author index with the names of all authors and links to the corresponding abstracts. Each abstract is referenced by a unique number 6-digits number indicated at the bottom of each page on the right. This reference number points to the online version of the abstract on the conference website using URL https://sciencesconf.org:ib2019/xxxxxx, where xxxxxx is the reference of the abstract. 4 Table of contents Plenary Sessions 19 Introduction to natural history of the Mascarene islands, Dominique Strasberg . 20 The history, current status, and future of the protected areas of Madagascar, Steven M. Goodman............................................ 21 The island biogeography of alien species, Tim Blackburn.................. 22 What can we learn about invasion ecology from ant invasions of islands ?, Lori Lach . 23 Orchids, moths, and birds on Madagascar, Mauritius, and Reunion: island systems with well-constrained timeframes for species interactions and trait change, Susanne Renner .
    [Show full text]
  • Fundamentos Conceptuales Y Didácticos Iguzquiza2 1 Unidad Del IGME En Las Islas Baleares
    y El karst en cifras ¿cuáles son las mayores cavidades del mundo y por qué? Karst in figure: which are the major cavities of the world and why? Pedro Agustín Robledo Ardila1, Juan José Durán Valsero2 Y Eulogio Pardo Fundamentos Conceptuales Didácticos Iguzquiza2 1 Unidad del IGME en las Islas Baleares. C/Felicià Fuster 7, 07006, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares. E-mail: [email protected] 2 IGME. C/Ríos Rosas nº 23, 28003, Madrid. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Resumen Entre los terrenos kársticos superficiales y subterráneos, las cuevas son, actualmente para determinados colectivos, el producto más interesante del karst y, que de forma creciente, ha atraído la curiosidad humana desde que los seres humanos habitan el Planeta. Prueba de ello son los restos de arte rupestre y yacimientos paleontológicos descritos en muchas cuevas o el creciente número de visitantes anuales que tienen. Sin embargo, en las últimas décadas los equipos de científicos y espeleólogos se han ocupado especialmente del karst en términos de cifras, con especial énfasis en grandes cavidades. Bien, atendiendo al tamaño de las mismas en su desarrollo horizontal o vertical, o de forma parcial, midiendo volúmenes de galerías y conductos, cámaras o espeleotemas, entre otros elementos. Existen exhaustivos rankings de los sistemas de cavidades de mayor longitud total de galerías exploradas, de las salas más grandes, de las cuevas más profundadas o de los espeleotemas más grandes en su tipo. Esto ha condicionando que, por un lado, exista un auge en la investigación de los sistemas endokársticos más grandes del mundo, y por otro, que paisajes superficiales kársticos espectaculares del Planeta hayan pasado a un segundo orden en cuanto a el interés científico o turístico.
    [Show full text]
  • Iguanas and Seabirds
    PROTECTEDAREASMANAGEMENTSTRATEGYFOR BAHAMIAN TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES: IGUANAS AND SEABIRDS Bahamian Field Station San Salvador, The Bahamas 11-12 November, 2000 Organized by Conservation Unit, Bahamas Department of Agriculture and IUCN/SSC Iguana Specialist Group In collaboration with IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group Supported by Fort Worth Zoo Zoological Society of San Diego A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Organized by Conservation Unit, Bahamas Department of Agriculture and the IUCN/SSC Iguana Specialist Group, in collaboration with the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Supported by the Fort Worth Zoo and the Zoological Society of San Diego. © Copyright 2001 by CBSG. Citation: E. Carey, S.D. Buckner, A. C. Alberts, R.D. Hudson, and D. Lee, editors. 2001. Protected Areas Management Strategy for Bahamian Terrestrial Vertebrates: Iguanas and Seabirds. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, Apple Valley, Minnesota. Additional copies of Protected Areas Management Strategy for Bahamian Terrestrial Vertebrates: Iguanas and Seabirds Report can be ordered through the the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Bartschi s iguana, Cyclura carinata bartschi Andros island iguana, Cyclura cychlura cychlura Exuma island iguana, Cyclura cychlura figginsi Allen s Cay iguana, Cyclura cychlura inornata Allen s Cay iguana, Cyclura cychlura inornata Acklins iguana, Cyclura rileyi nucha/is San Salvador iguana, Cyclura rileyi rileyi San Salvador iguana, Cyclura rileyi rileyi Audubon s Shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri Least Tern, Sterna antillarum White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster Bridled Tern, Sterna anaethetus Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens - Juveniles CONTENTS Opening Remarks by The Bahamas Minister of Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry .........................
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts of Dive
    ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF DIVE AND SNORKEL TOURISM IN ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES Nola H. L. Barker Thesis submittedfor the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science Environment Department University of York August 2003 Abstract Coral reefsprovide many servicesand are a valuableresource, particularly for tourism, yet they are suffering significant degradationand pollution worldwide. To managereef tourism effectively a greaterunderstanding is neededof reef ecological processesand the impactsthat tourist activities haveon them. This study explores the impact of divers and snorkelerson the reefs of St. Lucia, West Indies, and how the reef environmentaffects tourists' perceptionsand experiencesof them. Observationsof divers and snorkelersrevealed that their impact on the reefs followed certainpatterns and could be predictedfrom individuals', site and dive characteristics.Camera use, night diving and shorediving were correlatedwith higher levels of diver damage.Briefings by dive leadersalone did not reducetourist contactswith the reef but interventiondid. Interviewswith tourists revealedthat many choseto visit St. Lucia becauseof its marineprotected area. Certain site attributes,especially marine life, affectedtourists' experiencesand overall enjoyment of reefs.Tourists were not alwaysable to correctly ascertainabundance of marine life or sedimentpollution but they were sensitiveto, and disliked seeingdamaged coral, poor underwatervisibility, garbageand other tourists damagingthe reef. Some tourists found sitesto be
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 69 Index
    VOLUME 69 INDEX INDEX TO VOLUME 69 OF THE JOURNAL OF CAVE AND KARST STUDIES IRA D. SASOWSKY & ELAINE L. Butcher Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-3641, USA, [email protected] This index covers all articles and abstracts published in discussed in articles. For articles containing extensive volume 69 parts 1, 2, and 3. Selected abstracts from the lists of organisms indexing was conducted at least to the 2007 Society convention in Marengo, Indiana are level of Order. The third section is an alphabetical included. Author index. Articles with multiple authors are indexed The index has three sections. The first is a Keyword for each author, and each author's name was cited as index, containing general and specific terms from the title given. and body of an article. This includes cave names, Citations include only the name of the author, followed geographic names, etc. Numerical keywords (such as by the page numbers. Within an index listing, such as 1814) are indexed according to alphabetic spelling “Bats”, the earliest article is cited first. (Eighteen fourteen). The second section is a Biologic names index. These terms are Latin names of organisms Keyword Index Aach Spring 371 75 Alunogen Worthington, S.R.H., p.94-102 Grady, F., and Baker, C., p.371-372 Barton, H.A., and Northup, D.E., Audra, P., p.243-249 Access Aggregates p.163-178 Ammonia Lovaas, J., p.375-375 Hill, C.A., and Forti, P., p.35-45 Toomey III, R.S., and Trimbolt, S., Audra, P., p.243-249 Accidentals Agricultural p.365-365 Levy,
    [Show full text]
  • The Last Survivors: Current Status and Conservation of the Non-Volant Land
    1 The Last Survivors: current status and conservation of the non-volant land 2 mammals of the insular Caribbean 3 4 SAMUEL T. TURVEY,* ROSALIND J. KENNERLEY, JOSE M. NUÑEZ-MIÑO, AND RICHARD P. 5 YOUNG 6 7 Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY (STT) 8 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP, Channel 9 Islands (RJK, JNM, RPY) 10 11 *Correspondent: [email protected] 12 13 Running header: Status of Caribbean land mammals 14 1 15 The insular Caribbean is among the few oceanic-type island systems colonized by non-volant 16 land mammals. This region also has experienced the world’s highest levels of historical 17 mammal extinctions, with at least 29 species lost since AD 1500. Representatives of only 2 18 land-mammal families (Capromyidae and Solenodontidae) now survive, in Cuba, Hispaniola, 19 Jamaica, and the Bahama Archipelago. The conservation status of Caribbean land mammals 20 is surprisingly poorly understood. The most recent IUCN Red List assessment, from 2008, 21 recognized 15 endemic species, of which 13 were assessed as threatened. We reassessed all 22 available baseline data on the current status of the Caribbean land-mammal fauna within the 23 framework of the IUCN Red List, to determine specific conservation requirements for 24 Caribbean land-mammal species using an evidence-based approach. We recognize only 13 25 surviving species, 1 of which is not formally described and cannot be assessed using IUCN 26 criteria; 3 further species previously considered valid are interpreted as junior synonyms or 27 subspecies.
    [Show full text]
  • Diving in Guam
    Diving in Guam Introduction Popular Outer Reef Sites Guam’s tropical waters are teaming with hundreds Guam is home to one of the world’s most amazing of varieties of colorful fish and coral species, a seascape of underwater phenomena, the Blue Hole, a natural 300-foot unimaginable beauty and clarity, with historic wrecks from shaft cut into the reef off Orote Point. A plethora of marine World War I and World War II. life and coral also inhabit several other outer reef dive sites including the Crevice, Coral Gardens, Shark Pit, Barracuda Guam’s open ocean is not only home to diverse coral and Rock, Hap’s Reef, and the elusive 11-Mile Reef. marine life; it’s one of Micronesia’s most affordable places to dive. Home to a variety of dives for all certification levels, the • Blue Hole island’s waters stay from 82-86°F year-round, with visibility One of Guam’s most unique dive sites, the Blue Hole is up to 150 feet. Dive environments for beginners and more located toward the tip of Orote Peninsula on the southern experienced divers are concentrated more heavily in the coast. Characterized as a 300-foot shaft cut into reef made south, with the exception of a few accessible dive spots in of limestone, the site offers excellent visibility that often northern Guam. allows divers to see the top of the hole from the surface. The shaft actually drops much further than air diving allows, but a large window opens to the outer wall at about 125 feet, allowing divers to exit and ascend after a free fall through the shaft.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Tour Brochure
    ADVENTURES Belize, at only 8,867 square miles will never be mistaken for a large country, but within that relatively small area is a world of adventure waiting to be explored. The Placencia Peninsula, situated in southern Belize, is the ideal jumping off point to access the country’s premier attractions both on land and at sea. LAND SEA CULTURE Land Cocoplum Birdwatch Step right out of the hotel lobby and into the naturally beautiful environment that surrounds it. The Cocoplum property, in which Naïa is nestled, is comprised of 224 acres of primarily littoral forest and mangrove. Home to upwards of 40 bird species, and even more during periods of migration, Cocoplum offers plenty to birders both experienced and new without the hassle of a long van ride. Common species include Roadside Hawks, Chachalacas, Black Headed Trogons, Tropical Kingbirds, Little Blue Herons, Common Black Hawks, Cinnamon Hummingbirds, Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and Tropical Mockingbirds. Intensity: Easy Minimum: 1 Person Length: 1.5 hours What To Bring: Comfortable shoes or walking sandals, camera, insect repellent, and binoculars. Lagoon Kayaking & Wildlife Watch Enjoy peaceful paddling in the unique mangrove habitat of the Placencia Lagoon. Your guide will help you spot various birds, both native and migrant, crabs, iguanas and perhaps a crocodile. It is also possible to see dolphins and manatees. This tour is best done in the early morning or late afternoon as the likelihood of wildlife sightings is higher at these times. Minimum: 2 People Maximum: 6 people or 3 two- man kayaks Length: 2 hours What To Bring: Hat, camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, repellent, and binoculars.
    [Show full text]
  • ADM Issue 4 Finnished
    DEMA 2000 marks one year since the sale of DeepTech by my two ex-business partners. Being the original founder of DeepTech, the news of its sale without my knowledge or approval kinda, well lets say: rubbed me the wrong way. Not only was I concerned about all the years and thousands of hours of work I put into DeepTech but also about the subscribers who had paid their money for a subscription and now would not receive what they shelled out their hard earned cash for. My reputation not only as a publisher but also as a respected diver was immediately at stake. Knocked back to step one after all these years was a hard blow but also a blessing in disguise. When I started DeepTech I had no connections, no advertisers and very little money. After 4 years in circulation I had thousands of connections, good rapport with my advertisers, and a little more money to start over from square one. Advanced Diver Magazine was born with no business part- ners, many of the same advertisers and a data base of good subscribers available. One year has passed and the small staff at ADM has delivered what we had prom- ised. An on-time, high quality, fully illustrated dive magazine like no other. Designed with a good balance of text, illustrations, photos and less than 20% advertising. ADM will continue into the new millen- nium providing what we promised our subscribers with the quality and graphic design that I expect as the founder and publisher. After all, my reputation is at stake.
    [Show full text]
  • Gulf of Mexico Blue Hole Harbors High Levels of Novel Microbial Lineages
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.18.342550; this version posted October 19, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. 1 Gulf of Mexico blue hole harbors high levels of novel microbial lineages 2 3 Patin NV1,2*, Dietrich ZA3, Stancil A4, Quinan M4, Beckler JS4, Hall ER5, Culter J5, Smith 4 CG6, Taillefert M7, Stewart FJ1,2,8 5 6 1. School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA 30332 7 2. Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta 8 GA 30332 9 3. Bowdoin College, Brunswick ME 04011 10 4. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce FL 11 34946 12 5. Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota FL 34236 13 6. St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, United States Geological Survey, 14 St. Petersburg FL 33701 15 7. School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA 16 30332 17 8. Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman MT 18 59717 19 20 * Corresponding author: [email protected] 21 22 Abstract 23 24 Exploration of oxygen-depleted marine environments has consistently revealed novel 25 microbial taxa and metabolic capabilities that expand our understanding of microbial 26 evolution and ecology. Marine blue holes are shallow karst formations characterized by 27 low oxygen and high organic matter content. They are logistically challenging to sample, 28 and thus our understanding of their biogeochemistry and microbial ecology is limited.
    [Show full text]
  • Onment (Geosciences), Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
    (2019) 30: 57–67 AN ANNOTATED LIST OF LATE QUATERNARY EXTINCT BIRDS OF CUBA Johanset Orihuela Department of Earth and Environment (Geosciences), Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract · Within the Antilles, Cuba has a peculiarly diverse fossil avifauna. However, information on this avifauna is scattered among the specialized literature. Here I provide an updated annotated taxonomic list of the fossil birds from Cuba. This list includes 35 taxa, of which 17 are endemic, 12 actually extirpated, and 6 are undefined species identified only to genus level. The list is richly diverse in raptors with varied adaptations, including giant owls with limited flight and four large barn-owls, all with anatomical adaptations that suggest pronounced ground-dwelling. The raptor list includes five hawks, five falcons, and three vultures. There are also records of an egret, a stork, a crane, a snipe, and a nighthawk. Most species seem to have become extinct in Cuba, probably during the Late Holocene. Resumen · Lista de la avifauna fósil de Cuba Cuba tiene una avifauna fósil peculiarmente diversa. No obstante, la información taxonómica al respecto se encuentra dispersa en la literatu- ra especializada. Se presenta aquí una lista actualizada sobre la taxonomía de la avifauna fósil de Cuba, reconociéndose 35 taxones extintos, incluyendo 17 endémicos y 12 taxones localmente extinguidos o extirpados y 6 taxones identificados solo al nivel de género. Entre la fauna extinguida conocida prevalecen las aves rapaces, incluyendo búhos gigantes, lechuzas y, un teratornítido con adaptaciones que indican capa- cidades nulas o limitadas de vuelo. Además, hay cinco gavilanes, cinco halcones y tres buitres.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Birds of the Bahamas
    \%<* Bahamas Naturalist, 6(l):33-37 Spring 1982 FOSSIL BIRDS OF THE BAHAMAS by Storrs L. Olson A recent analysis (Olson and Hilgartner, in press) of newly col- lected specimens and re-examination of all previously reported fossil birds from the Bahamas, revealed many interesting facts about the former birdlife of the islands. These permit some generalizations concerning the past environment of the Bahamas that should be of interest to naturalists in general. I have therefore attempted to summarize'the highlights of our findings here. Caves and sinkholes in the West Indies are1 well known as likely places to find fossil remains of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. These fossils do not consist of slabs of rocks with impressions of entire animals, but instead.are disarticulated bones, often fragmentary, that occur in the soil that accumulates in caves. Most often these bones were deposited as pellets regurgitated by owls that roosted or nested in the caves, although some were the result of animals falling into sinkholes from which they could not escape. Despite the fact that the Bahamas are composed mainly of limestone and consequently are riddled with sinks and caves, only two sites have been reported so far that contained significant vertebrate fossils. This is merely a reflection of neglect by paleontologists. The first -verte- brate fossils from the Bahamas were picked out of cave dirt that had been used as fertilizer. These bones were sent to Harvard University in 1937, and the bird bones were submitted to Alexander Wetmore of the Smithsonian Institution for study. These specimens were first thought to have come from Great Exuma but were later determined as having originated on Little Exutna.
    [Show full text]