DOCSLIB.ORG

First Articulated Skeleton of Palaeeudyptes Gunnari

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
First Articulated Skeleton of Palaeeudyptes Gunnari Antarctic Science 22(3), 289–298 (2010) & Antarctic Science Ltd 2010 doi:10.1017/S0954102009990769 First articulated skeleton of Palaeeudyptes gunnari from the late Eocene of Isla Marambio (Seymour Island), Antarctica CAROLINA ACOSTA HOSPITALECHE* and MARCELO REGUERO Divisio´n Paleontologı´a Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, CONICET, Argentina *[email protected] Abstract: The first articulated skeleton of a penguin from the late Eocene of Antarctica is described. MLP 96-I-6-13 comes from the upper Submeseta Allomember (La Meseta Formation) of Isla Marambio (locality DPV 10/84). The significance of this finding in the context of the Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi biozone is discussed. An osteologic description of the recovered elements and a brief discussion of its systematic determination are provided. MLP 96-I-6-13 is the first articulated skeleton with sure specific assignment to Palaeeudyptes gunnari (Wiman, 1905), a species previously known only through isolated tarsometatarsi and included in the groups of Wiman. Received 26 August 2009, accepted 12 November 2009 Key words: Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi biozone, fossil penguin, Palaeogene, Spheniscidae Introduction In the present contribution, the first articulated skeleton from Antarctica is studied. An osteologic description of the The number of penguin species (fourteen) and size classes recovered elements and a brief discussion about its (six) obtained from the late Eocene localities of Isla Marambio systematic assignment are given. The significance of this (La Meseta Formation, Elliot & Trautmant 1982), Antarctica, finding in the context of the Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi exceed the highest number of sympatric species (four) and size biozone is also discussed. classes currently occurring in regional breeding from the cold sub-Antarctic to cool temperate waters south of the Subtropical Convergence. There may be palaeobiological or taphonomical Material and methods reasons for this high percentage, but it is probable that it also reflects a real abundance of penguins, which appear to have During the 2008 field season on Isla Marambio one of the been the dominant coastal birds in the late Eocene of authors (M.R.) collected in situ a partially complete skeleton Antarctica (Case 1996). Even though La Meseta Formation of a fossil spheniscid. The fossil studied here comes from is one of the richest units in terms of diversity and abundance the lower level of the Submeseta Allomember, La Meseta of penguins, no articulated or associated skeleton has Formation (Marenssi et al. 1998a) or TELM 7 (Elliot & previously been described. The Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi Trautman 1982), which outcrops at several localities. The biozone defined within the Submeseta Allomember constitutes penguin-bearing horizon is composed of thick shelly the unit with highest specific diversity of fossil penguins ever conglomerates, well-sorted sands and interlaminated sand/ known, with fourteen recorded species (Tambussi et al. 2006, mud channel-fills with thin shelly conglomeratic intervals. however see Jadwiszczak 2006b). This type of deposit, with Specimen MLP 96-I-6-13 and the comparison materials high abundance of isolated elements, is not exclusive of are housed at the Divisio´n Paleontologı´a de Vertebrados of Antarctic sediments, but it is also characteristic of most fossil the Museo de La Plata (MLP), Argentina. Diagnostic penguin assemblages in the world. characters for Antarctic penguin species are taken from As in other cases, the remains are largely accumulated Myrcha et al. (2002). Osteological terminology follows close to nesting areas of the breeding colonies. These Baumel & Witmer (1993). Measurements were taken with deposits are usually represented by isolated and sometimes a Vernier Caliper (0.01 mm accuracy). fragmented bones. This taphonomic characteristic of the record has compelled palaeontologists to propose a Geological and depositional setting systematic scheme entirely based on isolated skeletal remains. A consequence of this is that most species are A series of prolific fossil sites and quarries are now known known only through a single element, the tarsometatarsus from La Meseta Formation in Isla Marambio, James Ross in most cases, or the humerus in a few others. Only a small Basin (del Valle et al. 1992), Antarctic Peninsula, as a number of fossil species, whose diagnoses are recent (Slack result of work conducted by various research groups since et al. 2006, Acosta Hospitaleche et al. 2007, Clarke et al. the mid 1980s (Fig. 1). The La Meseta Formation is 2007), have been described from articulated elements. composed of sandstones and mudstones with interbedded 289 http://journals.cambridge.org Downloaded: 11 Dec 2013 IP address: 62.173.43.73 290 C. ACOSTA HOSPITALECHE & M. REGUERO Fig. 1. a. Map showing the location of Isla Marambio, Antarctic Peninsula. b. Sketch map of the northern part of Isla Marambio showing the distribution of the Submeseta Allomember and the fossil penguin-bearing locality cited in the text. shell-rich conglomerates, organized into six erosionally- parasequences where this specimen was deposited based internal units, named from base to top Valle de Las (Marenssi 2006). The age of the fossiliferous interval is Focas, Acantilados, Campamento, Cucullaea I, Cucullaea constrained by the age of the basal unconformity (Marenssi II and Submeseta allomembers (Fig. 2). These units 2006, 36 Ma) and the Sr-derived age of Dingle & Lavelle were deposited during the Eocene in deltaic, estuarine and (1998) at 34.2 Ma. shallow marine settings, mostly within a north-west– Marine vertebrates such as the gadiform ‘‘Mesetaichthys’’, south-east trending valley (Marenssi et al. 1998a, 1998b). afewsharks(Pristiophorus and Carcharias), and a primitive The fossil presented here comes from the upper-level mysticete whale (Llanocetus denticrenatus)aswellas Submeseta Allomember in the south-western slope of the archaeocetes are also present in this zone (personal plateau (meseta) of the island (Fig. 1). Almost all fossil observations). A small number of penguin bones assigned to vertebrate specimens from the Submeseta Allomember were Anthropornis and Delphinornis were found close to the found in a stratigraphic interval that is easily distinguishable by specimen described here. the massive occurrence of penguin bones and the phosphatic Sedimentologically, the locality DPV 10/84 is included brachiopod ‘‘Lingula’’, and stratigraphically located 30–35 m in a facies association (facies association II of Marenssi below the top of the 145 m thick Submeseta Allomember, et al. 1998b), and is characterized by conglomeratic beds to within the Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi biozone (Tambussi mudstones with a diverse and abundant macrofauna that et al. 2006, but see Jadwiszczak 2006b). The locality DPV correspond to a valley-confined estuary mouth/inner 10/84 is located 70–75 m below this rich vertebrate-bearing estuary complex. Tidal channels and mixed flats, tidal horizon (Fig. 2b), and approximately 20 m above the contact inlets and deltas, and washover and beach environments between the Cucullaea II and Submeseta allomembers. The represent the interfingering of high and low energy base of the Submeseta Allomember is correlated with environments (Marenssi et al. 1998b). Penguin bones the main lowstand at 36 Ma, and the first part of this unit is recovered are usually disarticulated; some are broken; characterized by estuarine heterolithic sediments followed most are complete albeit with various degrees of abrasion. by a set of aggradational-retrogradational shoreface Most if not all of them were transported at least for a short http://journals.cambridge.org Downloaded: 11 Dec 2013 IP address: 62.173.43.73 FIRST ARTICULATED EOCENE PENGUIN FROM ANTARCTICA 291 Fig. 2. a. Stratigraphic section of the La Meseta Formation, Isla Marambio, Antarctic Peninsula (modified from Reguero et al. 2002). b. Measured section from the eastern flank of the plateau (stratotype of the Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi biozone) showing stratigraphic levels of the Cucullaea II and Submeseta Allomembers (modified from Marenssi 1995). Shaded rectangular area delimits the Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi biozone. time before burial and therefore their accumulations to be the first fossil species of penguin to be described, and represent parauthoctonous assemblages. consequently became the type species of Palaeeudyptes. A partial associated skeleton that included elements of the wing and leg was described by Hector (1872) and The Palaeeudyptes dilemma assigned to P. antarcticus. Subsequently, other remains, Before dealing with the descriptive analysis of the specimen which were originally attributed to this same individual under study, we need to introduce the taxonomic problem that (Hector 1873), were reviewed by Oliver (1930) and pervades this genus. Four species have been nominated for assigned to Pachydyptes ponderosus Oliver, 1930. this genus. Palaeeudyptes antarcticus Huxley, 1859 happened However, the presence of an associated tarsometatarsus http://journals.cambridge.org Downloaded: 11 Dec 2013 IP address: 62.173.43.73 292 C. ACOSTA HOSPITALECHE & M. REGUERO among these remains is not mentioned in these later works. any element other than a tarsometatarsus to P. klekowskii and The subsequent references to this skeleton made by P. gunnari, at least until other articulated remains are found. Lambrecht (1933) and Marples (1952) confirm the However, Jadwiszczak (2006a) assigns different skeletal
Load more

Recommended publications
  • At the Root of the Early Penguin Neck: a Study of the Only Two Cervicodorsal Spines Recovered from the Eocene of Antarctica Piotr Jadwiszczak
    RESEARCH/REVIEW ARTICLE At the root of the early penguin neck: a study of the only two cervicodorsal spines recovered from the Eocene of Antarctica Piotr Jadwiszczak Institute of Biology, University of Bialystok, Swierkowa 20B, PL-15-950, Bialystok, Poland Keywords Abstract Antarctic Peninsula; La Meseta Formation; Palaeogene; early Sphenisciformes; The spinal column of early Antarctic penguins is poorly known, mainly due to cervicodorsal vertebrae. the scarcity of articulated vertebrae in the fossil record. One of the most interesting segments of this part of the skeleton is the transitional series located Correspondence at the root of the neck. Here, two such cervicodorsal series, comprising rein- Piotr Jadwiszczak, Institute of Biology, terpreted known material and a new specimen from the Eocene of Seymour University of Bialystok, Swierkowa 20B, Island (Antarctic Peninsula), were investigated and contrasted with those PL-15-950 Bialystok, Poland. of modern penguins and some fossil bones. The new specimen is smaller E-mail: [email protected] than the counterpart elements in recent king penguins, whereas the second series belonged to a large-bodied penguin from the genus Palaeeudyptes. It had been assigned by earlier researchers to P. gunnari (a species of ‘‘giant’’ penguins) and a Bayesian analysis*a Bayes factor approach based on size of an associated tarsometatarsus*strongly supported such an assignment. Morphological and functional studies revealed that mobility within the aforementioned segment probably did not differ substantially between extant and studied fossil penguins. There were, however, intriguing morphological differences between the smaller fossil specimen and the comparative material related to the condition of the lateral excavation in the first cervicodorsal vertebra and the extremely small size of the intervertebral foramen located just prior to the first ‘‘true’’ thoracic vertebra.
    [Show full text]
  • (Eocene) of Seymour Island, Antarctica
    A new species of Glgphea (Decapoda: Palinura) from the La Meseta Formation (Eocene) of Seymour Island, Antarctica RoDNEY M. FELDMANN andANDRZBI cx oZICK[ Feldmann, R'M. & Ga dzicki,A.1997. Anew speciesof Glyphea (Decapoda:Palinura) from the La Meseta Formation (Eocene) of Seymour Island, Antarctica. - Acta Palaeon- tologica Polonica 42, 3, 437 445. A new species of palinuran lobster, Glyphea reticulata, from the lowermost part of the Eocene La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island, Antarctica, represents one of the stratigraphically youngest species of Glyphea. The occurrence of the last vestiges of what was previously a cosmopolitan genus in a region dominated by Pacific Ocean faunal influences is significant because the sole extant species of the Glypheidae, Neoglyphea inopinata Forest & Saint Laurent, 1975, is known only from the west Pacific. K e y w o rd s : Decapoda, Glypheidae, paleobiogeography, evolution, Eocene, Antar- ctica. Rodney M. Feldmann [email protected]], Department of Geology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, U.S.A. Andrzej Ga dzicki I gazdzick@ twarda.pan.pl], Ins tut Paleobiologii PAN, ul. Twarda 5 1/55, PL-00-8 I 8 Warszawa, Poland. Introduction The La Meseta Formation (Elliot & Trautman L98f) is the Eocene to ?early Oligocene sequence of richly fossiliferous shallow marine deposits exposed in the northern portion of Seymour Island,Antarctic Peninsula (Fig. 1).It comprisesan approximately 800 m thick successionof poorly consolidatedsandstones and siltstoneswith very well preserved micro- and macrofossils (Stilwell & Zinsmeister L992). Anomuran and brachyuran decapod crustaceansare found throughout most of the formation and documenta remarkablydiverse assemblagein such a high latitude setting(Feldmann & Wilson 1988).The purpose of this work is to describe the first macruranremains from the La Meseta Formation.
    [Show full text]
  • Sarah N. Davis Curriculum Vitae Jackson School of Geosciences [email protected] the University of Texas at Austin Sarahndavis.Weebly.Com
    Sarah N. Davis Curriculum Vitae Jackson School of Geosciences [email protected] The University of Texas at Austin sarahndavis.weebly.com EDUCATION 2016 - Present Ph.D.* The University of Texas at Austin, Geological Sciences Advisor: Julia Clarke 2016 B.S. The University of Arizona, Biology with Honors, Cum Laude 2016 B.A. The University of Arizona, French Language Cum Laude GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND FELLOWSHIPS (total awarded: $156,230) 2019 Whitney Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Paleontology ($3,500) Heese Research Award, the American Ornithological Society ($1,230) 2018 Broquet Charl Memorial Fellowship ($12,000) 2017 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ($102,000 over three years) Lundelius Research Grant ($1,500) 2012 - 2016 Regents High Honors Endorsement Scholarship ($36,000 over four years) HONORS AND AWARDS 2019 Academic Enrichment Award, The University of Texas Award to support invited speakers for our seminar series 2018 Off Campus Research Award, Jackson School of Geosciences Analytical Research Award, Jackson School of Geosciences 2017 Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Jackson School of Geosciences 2016 Excellence in Undergraduate Research, The University of Arizona 2015 Lucretia B Hamilton Emerging Researcher Award, The University of Arizona 2015 - 2016 Dean’s List: The University of Arizona College of Science POSITIONS 2016 - Present PhD Candidate, The University of Texas at Austin Graduate Dissertation Research 2016 - 2018 Teaching Assistant, The University of Texas at Austin 2014 - 2016 Undergraduate Research Assistant, The University of Arizona REU and Thesis work with Alexander Badyaev 2014 Fossil Preparator and Scientific Illustrator, GeoDécor Fossils and Minerals ARTICLES IN REVIEW 1. Davis, S.N., Torres, C.R., Musser, G.M., Proffitt, J.V., Crouch, N.M.A., and Clarke, J.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Penguin Response to the Eocene Climate and Ecosystem Change in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula Region
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Polar Science 4 (2010) 229e235 http://ees.elsevier.com/polar/ Penguin response to the Eocene climate and ecosystem change in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region Piotr Jadwiszczak Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, S´wierkowa 20B, PL-15-950 Białystok, Poland Received 28 October 2009; revised 9 February 2010; accepted 12 March 2010 Available online 25 March 2010 Abstract Eocene Antarctic penguins are known solely from the La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island, James Ross Basin). They are most numerous and taxonomically diverse (at least ten species present) within strata formed at the end of this epoch, which is concomitant with a significant cooling trend and biotic turnover prior to the onset of glaciation. Moreover, all newly appeared taxa were small-bodied, and most probably evolved in situ. Interestingly, some chemical proxies suggest enhanced nutrient upwelling events that coincided with obvious changes in the record of La Meseta penguins. Ó 2010 Elsevier B.V. and NIPR. All rights reserved. Keywords: West Antarctica; Seymour Island; La Meseta formation (Eocene); Environmental change; Penguins 1. Introduction high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere to climate deterioration. Penguins (Aves: Sphenisciformes) are The Eocene epoch (55.8e33.9 Ma) witnessed the among the most common and best studied vertebrates warmest interval of the Cenozoic (Early Eocene from the La Meseta Formation. Fifteen species of La Climatic Optimum) followed by a trend toward cooler Meseta penguins have been established since 1905, but conditions (Zachos et al., 2001).
    [Show full text]
  • THE OLDEST MAMMALS from ANTARCTICA, EARLY EOCENE of the LA MESETA FORMATION, SEYMOUR ISLAND by JAVIER N
    http://www.diva-portal.org This is the published version of a paper published in Palaeontology. Citation for the original published paper (version of record): Gelfo, J., Mörs, T., Lorente, M., López, G., Reguero, M. (2014) The oldest mammals from Antarctica, early Eocene of La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island. Palaeontology http://dx.doi.org/DOI: 10.1111/pala.12121 Access to the published version may require subscription. N.B. When citing this work, cite the original published paper. Permanent link to this version: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:nrm:diva-922 [Palaeontology, 2014, pp. 1–10] THE OLDEST MAMMALS FROM ANTARCTICA, EARLY EOCENE OF THE LA MESETA FORMATION, SEYMOUR ISLAND by JAVIER N. GELFO1,2,3, THOMAS MORS€ 4,MALENALORENTE1,2, GUILLERMO M. LOPEZ 1,3 and MARCELO REGUERO1,2,5 1Division Paleontologıa de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina; e-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2CONICET 3Catedra Paleontologıa Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Avenida 122 y 60, (1900) La Plata Argentina 4Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, SE-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden; e-mail: [email protected] 5Instituto Antartico Argentino, Balcarce 290, (C1064AAF), Buenos Aires, Argentina Typescript received 16 April 2014; accepted in revised form 3 June 2014 Abstract: New fossil mammals found at the base of Acan- ungulate. These Antarctic findings in sediments of 55.3 Ma tilados II Allomember of the La Meseta Formation, from the query the minimum age needed for terrestrial mammals to early Eocene (Ypresian) of Seymour Island, represent the spread from South America to Antarctica, which should have oldest evidence of this group in Antarctica.
    [Show full text]
  • (Ypresian, Eocene) of the Cucullaea I Allomember, La Meseta Formation, Seymour (Marambio) Island, Antarctica
    Rev. peru. biol. 19(3): 275 - 284 (Diciembre 2012) © Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas UNMSM Weddellian marine/coastal vertebrates diversity from Seymour Island,ISSN Antarctica 1561-0837 Weddellian marine/coastal vertebrates diversity from a basal horizon (Ypresian, Eocene) of the Cucullaea I Allomember, La Meseta formation, Seymour (Marambio) Island, Antarctica Diversidad de vertebrados marino costeros de la Provincia Weddelliana en un horizonte basal (Ypresiano, Eoceno) del Alomiembro Cucullaea I, Formación La Meseta, isla Seymour (Marambio), Antártida Marcelo A. Reguero1,2,3,*, Sergio A. Marenssi1,3 and Sergio N. Santillana1 Abstract 1 Instituto Antártico Argentino, Ce- rrito 1248, C1010AAZ Ciudad Au- The La Meseta Formation crops out in Seymour/Marambio Island, Weddell Sea, northeast of the Antarctic tónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Peninsula and contains one of the world's most diverse assemblages of Weddellian marine/coastal verte- 2 División Paleontología de Verte- brates of Early Eocene (Ypresian) age. The La Meseta Formation is composed of poorly consolidated, marine brados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo sandstones and siltstones which were deposited in a coastal, deltaic and/or estuarine environment. It includes del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina. marine invertebrates and vertebrates as well as terrestrial vertebrates and plants. The highly fossiliferous basal 3 Consejo Nacional de Investi- horizon (Cucullaea shell bed, Telm 4 of Sadler 1988) of the Cucullaea I Allomember is a laterally extensive shell gaciones Científicas y Técnicas, bed with sandy matrix. The fish remains, including 35 species from 26 families, of the YpresianCucullaea bed Argentina (CONICET). represent one of the most abundant and diverse fossil vertebrate faunas yet recorded in southern latitudes.
    [Show full text]
  • Middle Eocene Vertebrate Fauna from the Aridal Formation, Sabkha of Gueran, Southwestern Morocco
    geodiversitas 2021 43 5 e of lif pal A eo – - e h g e r a p R e t e o d l o u g a l i s C - t – n a M e J e l m a i r o DIRECTEUR DE LA PUBLICATION / PUBLICATION DIRECTOR : Bruno David, Président du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Didier Merle ASSISTANT DE RÉDACTION / ASSISTANT EDITOR : Emmanuel Côtez ([email protected]) MISE EN PAGE / PAGE LAYOUT : Emmanuel Côtez COMITÉ SCIENTIFIQUE / SCIENTIFIC BOARD : Christine Argot (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris) Beatrix Azanza (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid) Raymond L. Bernor (Howard University, Washington DC) Alain Blieck (chercheur CNRS retraité, Haubourdin) Henning Blom (Uppsala University) Jean Broutin (Sorbonne Université, Paris, retraité) Gaël Clément (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris) Ted Daeschler (Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphie) Bruno David (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris) Gregory D. Edgecombe (The Natural History Museum, Londres) Ursula Göhlich (Natural History Museum Vienna) Jin Meng (American Museum of Natural History, New York) Brigitte Meyer-Berthaud (CIRAD, Montpellier) Zhu Min (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Pékin) Isabelle Rouget (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris) Sevket Sen (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, retraité) Stanislav Štamberg (Museum of Eastern Bohemia, Hradec Králové) Paul Taylor (The Natural History Museum, Londres, retraité) COUVERTURE / COVER : Réalisée à partir des Figures de l’article/Made from the Figures of the article. Geodiversitas est
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Characters in the Humerus and Tarsometatarsus of Penguins
    vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 469–496, 2014 doi: 10.2478/popore−2014−0025 Phylogenetic characters in the humerus and tarsometatarsus of penguins Martín CHÁVEZ HOFFMEISTER School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, BS8 1RJ, Bristol, United Kingdom and Laboratorio de Paleoecología, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile <[email protected]> Abstract: The present review aims to improve the scope and coverage of the phylogenetic matrices currently in use, as well as explore some aspects of the relationships among Paleogene penguins, using two key skeletal elements, the humerus and tarsometatarsus. These bones are extremely important for phylogenetic analyses based on fossils because they are commonly found solid specimens, often selected as holo− and paratypes of fossil taxa. The resulting dataset includes 25 new characters, making a total of 75 characters, along with eight previously uncoded taxa for a total of 48. The incorporation and analysis of this corrected subset of morphological characters raise some interesting questions consider− ing the relationships among Paleogene penguins, particularly regarding the possible exis− tence of two separate clades including Palaeeudyptes and Paraptenodytes, the monophyly of Platydyptes and Paraptenodytes, and the position of Anthropornis. Additionally, Noto− dyptes wimani is here recovered in the same collapsed node as Archaeospheniscus and not within Delphinornis, as in former analyses. Key words: Sphenisciformes, limb bones, phylogenetic analysis, parsimony method, revised dataset. Introduction Since the work of O’Hara (1986), the phylogeny of penguins has been a sub− ject of great interest. During the last decade, several authors have explored the use of molecular (e.g., Subramanian et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Eocene Birds from the Western Margin of Southernmost South America Michel A
    Journal of Paleontology, 84(6), 2010, p. 1061–1070 Copyright ’ 2010, The Paleontological Society 0022-3360/10/0084-1061$03.00 EOCENE BIRDS FROM THE WESTERN MARGIN OF SOUTHERNMOST SOUTH AMERICA MICHEL A. SALLABERRY,1 ROBERTO E. YURY-YA´ N˜ EZ,1 RODRIGO A. OTERO,1,2 SERGIO SOTO-ACUN˜ A,1 AND TERESA TORRES G.3 1Laboratorio de Zoologı´a de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ciencias Ecolo´gicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, N˜ un˜oa, Santiago de Chile, ,[email protected]., ,[email protected]., ,[email protected].; 2Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales, A´ rea Patrimonio Natural, Vicun˜a Mackenna 084, Providencia, Santiago de Chile, ,[email protected].; and 3Facultad de Ciencias Agrono´micas, Universidad de Chile, Santa Rosa 11315, Santiago de Chile, ,[email protected]. ABSTRACT—This study presents the first record of Eocene birds from the western margin of southernmost South America. Three localities in Magallanes, southern Chile, have yielded a total of eleven bird remains, including Sphenisciformes (penguins) and one record tentatively assigned to cf. Ardeidae (egrets). Two different groups of penguins have been recognized from these localities. The first group is similar in size to the smallest taxa previously described from Seymour Island, Marambiornis Myrcha et al., 2002, Mesetaornis Myrcha et al., 2002, and Delphinornis Wiman, 1905. The second recognized group is similar in size to the biggest taxa from Seymour Island; based on the available remains, we recognize the genus Palaeeudyptes Huxley, 1859, one of the most widespread penguin genera in the Southern Hemisphere during the Eocene. The stratigraphic context of the localities indicates a certain level of correlation with the geological units described on Seymour Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic Studies at Cape Wiman, Seymour Island DAVID H
    but also to move pebbles and, perhaps, tamp the walls of a References burrow. The description of this new genus and species of decapod Crame, J.A., D.Pirrie, J.B. Riding, M.R.A. Thomson. 1991. Campainian- not only enhances our understanding of the fossil fauna of the Maastrichtian (Cretaceous) stratigraphy of the James Ross Island Antarctic, it also provides unique information about ecologi- area, Antarctica. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 148, cal adaptations in that region. No other ecological equivalent 1125-1140. Feldmann, R.M., D.M. Tshudy, and M.R.A. Thomson. 1993. Late Cre- of this species is known from anywhere in the Antarctic. taceous and Paleocene decapod crustaceans from James Ross M.R.A. Thomson and J.A. Crame, British Antarctic Survey, Basin, Antarctic Peninsula. Paleontological Society Memoir, 28, provided invaluable information regarding the stratigraphic 1-41. occurrence of these fossils. Tom Chinnock, Kent State Univer- Schmitt, W.L. 1942. The species of Aegla, endemic South American sity, drew the reconstruction of Retrorsichela laevis. This fresh-water crustaceans. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 91,431-520. research was supported by National Science Foundation Williams, A.B. 1984. Shrimps, lobsters, and crabs of the Atlantic coast grant OPP 89-15439. (Contribution 551, Department of Geolo- of the eastern United States, Maine to Florida. Washington, D.C.: gy, Kent State University.) Smithsonian Institution Press. Geologic studies at Cape Wiman, Seymour Island DAVID H. ELLIOT, Byrd Polar Research Center and Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 ieldwork was conducted during January and the first few Fdays of February 1993 on Seymour Island (figure).
    [Show full text]
  • Klekowskii Penguin Takes Size Title Away from Emperor 4 August 2014, by Nancy Owano
    Klekowskii penguin takes size title away from emperor 4 August 2014, by Nancy Owano weighed over 250 pounds (115 kilograms).The species is known as Palaeeudyptes klekowskii. How did these researchers know the penguin was so huge? They knew by way of the bones they discovered, indicating the penguin was the tallest and heaviest ever to walk the Earth. Detailing Acosta Hospitaleche's work, New Scientist said, "Now she has uncovered two bigger bones. One is part of a wing, and the other is a tarsometatarsus, formed by the fusion of ankle and foot bones. The tarsometatarsus measures a record 9.1 centimeters. Based on the relative sizes of bones in penguin skeletons, Acosta Hospitaleche estimates P. klekowskii was 2.01 meters long from beak tip to toes." The larger the penguin, the deeper it can dive. Also, the large the penguin, the longer it can remain underwater. The researchers reckoned this Palaeeudyptes klekowskii. Credit: Geobios, heavyweight P. klekowskii could have stayed down doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2014.03.003 for 40 minutes, which indicates it was able to enjoy more time to hunt fish, Seymour Island is in the chain of islands around the A new fossil discovery of bones makes the tip of the Graham Land on the Antarctic Peninsula. 90-pound emperor penguin, thought to be the Many fossils have been discovered on the island. largest of all penguins, rather puny. Penguin- According to The Guardian, the bones were found watching has become all the more fascinating in at the La Meseta formation, Seymour Island, which light of new observations from researchers about is part of the peninsula with a wide range and the penguin past.
    [Show full text]
  • New Marsupial (Mammalia) from the Eocene of Antarctica, and the Origins and Affinities of the Microbiotheria
    Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 62 (4): 597-603 (2007) 597 NEW MARSUPIAL (MAMMALIA) FROM THE EOCENE OF ANTARCTICA, AND THE ORIGINS AND AFFINITIES OF THE MICROBIOTHERIA Francisco J. GOIN1, Natalia ZIMICZ, Marcelo A. REGUERO1, Sergio N. SANTILLANA2, Sergio A. MARENSSI2 y Juan J. MOLY1 ¹ División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, (B1900FWA) La Plata. E-mail: [email protected]. 2 Instituto Antártico Argentino, Dirección Nacional del Antártico, Cerrito n° 1248, C1010AAZ Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. ABSTRACT: We describe and comment on an isolated upper molar belonging to Woodburnodon casei gen. et sp. nov. (Mammalia, Marsupialia, Microbiotheria, Woodburnodontidae fam. nov.), from the Eocene of the La Meseta Fm (TELM 5 or Cucullaea I Member), Marambio (Seymour) Island, Antarctic Peninsula. With a body mass estimated between 900 to 1,300 g (depending on the type of equation and the possible molar locus of the type specimen), it represents the largest known Microbiotheria, living or extinct. Besides its size, other diag- nostic features include a proportionally large metacone, reduced or absent para- and metaconules, and an unusual labial notch between stylar cusps C and D. Woodburnodon casei is an undoubted Microbiotheria; however, its reference to the Microbiotheriidae is discarded: almost all its morphological characters are plesiomorphic when compared with South American microbiotheriids, even with respect to the oldest representatives of this family. This suggests (a) a quite ancient and southern origin for Woodburnodon and its ancestors, and (b) that the origins and initial radiation of the Microbiotheria may have occurred from a generalized peradectoid.
    [Show full text]