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Gerald Mayr - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Galliformes, Upupiformes, Trogoniformes, and other avian remains (?Phaethontiformes and ?Threskiornithidae) from the Rupelian stra- totype in Belgium, with comments on the identity of "Anas" benedeni
2020Co-Authors: Ursula B. Göhlich, Gerald Mayr, Andreas Kroh, T SmithAbstract:We describe new avian fossils from the Boom Formation of Belgium, which almost double the num- ber of bird taxa known from this part of the Rupelian stratotype. Three galliform species can, at least tentatively, be assigned to the paraortygid species Paraortyx brancoi, P. lorteti, and Pirortyx major. Among the fossils is a partial sternum, which shows that Paraortyx lacks a spina interna. The absence of this structure is plesiomor- phic for Galliformes and probably related to the absence of a large crop, thus indicating that Paraortygidae were not yet adapted to the regular processing of coarse and dry food. Two distal humeri belong to Trogoniformes (trogons) and Upupiformes (hoopoes, woodhoopoes, and allies), respectively. A femur is tentatively assigned to Phaethontiformes (tropicbirds), and a Carpometacarpus is, likewise tentatively, referred to Threskiornithidae (ibises and spoonbills). We finally comment on the affinities of " Anas" benedeni Sharpe, 1899 and detail that this species most likely belongs to Gaviiformes (loons).
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Charadriiform birds from the early Oligocene of Céreste (France) and the Middle Eocene of Messel (Hessen, Germany)
Geobios, 2020Co-Authors: Gerald MayrAbstract:Abstract Two new genera and species of shorebirds from the early Oligocene of Cereste (France) are described;both are represented by posteranial skeletons. Turnipox dissipata nov. gen. et sp. is classified within the new family Turnipacidae, and is distinguished from all Recent Charadriiformes by the relatively smaller extremitas omalis of the coracoid and the shape of the alae ischii. With respect to these features Turnipax dissipata closely resembles Recent Turnicidae (buttonquails). Another charadriiform bird from Cereste is described as Cerestenia pulchrapenna nov. gen. et sp. and has been assigned to the Turnipacidae only tentatively. Cerestenia pulchrapenna has a stouter Carpometacarpus than all Recent Charadriiformes. An unnamed charadriiform bird from the Middle Eocene of Messel (Hessen, Germany) is described, which provides the most substantial record of an Eocene charadriiform bird and the first shorebird from Messel.
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Skeletal morphology of the middle Eocene swift Scaniacypselus and the evolutionary history of true swifts (Apodidae)
Journal of Ornithology, 2015Co-Authors: Gerald MayrAbstract:Skelettmorphologie des mitteleozänen Seglers Scaniacypselus und die Evolutionsgeschichte echter Segler (Apodidae) Es werden neue Fossilfunde von Scaniacypselus beschrieben, einem mitteleozänen Stammgruppenvertreter der Apodidae (Segler) aus Messel. Die neuen Belege zeigen, dass sich Scaniacypselus in einigen Skelettmerkmalen deutlich von heutigen Apodidae unterscheidet. Insbesondere ist das Brustbein von Scaniacypselus kürzer als das heutiger Segler, die Ulna länger, der Carpometacarpus kürzer und der Processus internus indicis der proximalen Phalanx des Hauptfingerstrahls des Flügels weniger stark entwickelt. In einigen Details der Morphologie des Humerus unterscheidet sich Scaniacypselus von allen rezenten apodiformen Vögeln. Der Tarsometatarsus von Scaniacypselus ist zudem viel kürzer als derjenige der meisten Kronengruppen-Vertreter der Apodidae. Vermutlich sind kurze Läufe plesiomorph für Pan-Apodidae (Stammgruppe und Kronengruppe), während eine Verlängerung des Tarsometatarsus primitiv für die Kronengruppe ist und eine Anpassung an das Klammern an vertikalen Oberflächen darstellt. Die weniger spezialisierte Flügelmorphologie von Scaniacypselus legt nahe, dass das Taxon weniger an das Leben in der Luft angepasst war als heutige Segler. Die Unterschiede in der Morphologie der Füße weisen darauf hin, dass Scaniacypselus in höherem Maße baumbewohnend war und von heutigen Seglern und Baumseglern abweichende Brut- und Ruhegewohnheiten hatte. Die Kronengruppenvertreter der Apodidae spalteten sich vermutlich erst weit nach dem mittleren Eozän ab, und das abgeleitete Brutverhalten dieser Vögel dürfte zu ihrem evolutionären Erfolg beigetragen haben. New specimens of Scaniacypselus szarskii , a stem group representative of the Apodidae (true swifts) from the middle Eocene Messel oilshale in Germany, are described. These fossils show that Scaniacypselus differs from crown group Apodidae in a number of distinct and previously unrecognized osteological features. Notably, the sternum of Scaniacypselus is shorter than that of extant true swifts, the ulna proportionally longer, the Carpometacarpus shorter, and the internal index process on the proximal phalanx of the major wing digit less developed. In details of its humerus morphology, Scaniacypselus is distinguished from all extant apodiform birds. Scaniacypselus further has a much shorter tarsometatarsus than most crown group Apodidae. It is hypothesized that short legs are plesiomorphic for Apodidae as a total group (stem group and crown group representatives), but that crown group Apodidae primitively have an elongated tarsometatarsus as an adaptation for clinging to vertical surfaces. The less specialized wing and pectoral girdle morphology suggests that Scaniacypselus was probably not as aerial as extant Apodidae. The differences in foot morphology indicate that it was more arboreal than its living relatives and had different breeding and roosting habits. Crown group Apodiformes probably diverged well after the middle Eocene, and the derived nesting behavior may have contributed to their evolutionary success.
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Skeletal morphology of the middle Eocene swift Scaniacypselus and the evolutionary history of true swifts (Apodidae)
Journal of Ornithology, 2014Co-Authors: Gerald MayrAbstract:New specimens of Scaniacypselus szarskii, a stem group representative of the Apodidae (true swifts) from the middle Eocene Messel oilshale in Germany, are described. These fossils show that Scaniacypselus differs from crown group Apodidae in a number of distinct and previously unrecognized osteological features. Notably, the sternum of Scaniacypselus is shorter than that of extant true swifts, the ulna proportionally longer, the Carpometacarpus shorter, and the internal index process on the proximal phalanx of the major wing digit less developed. In details of its humerus morphology, Scaniacypselus is distinguished from all extant apodiform birds. Scaniacypselus further has a much shorter tarsometatarsus than most crown group Apodidae. It is hypothesized that short legs are plesiomorphic for Apodidae as a total group (stem group and crown group representatives), but that crown group Apodidae primitively have an elongated tarsometatarsus as an adaptation for clinging to vertical surfaces. The less specialized wing and pectoral girdle morphology suggests that Scaniacypselus was probably not as aerial as extant Apodidae. The differences in foot morphology indicate that it was more arboreal than its living relatives and had different breeding and roosting habits. Crown group Apodiformes probably diverged well after the middle Eocene, and the derived nesting behavior may have contributed to their evolutionary success.
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An Elaphrocnemus-Like Landbird and Other Avian Remains from the Late Paleocene of Brazil
Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 2011Co-Authors: Gerald Mayr, Herculano Alvarenga, Julia A. ClarkeAbstract:We describe a new avian taxon, Itaboravis elaphrocnemoides, gen. et sp. nov., from the late Paleocene fissure fillings of Sao Jose de Itaborai in Brazil. The species is represented by a coracoid and two humeri, which most closely resemble the corresponding elements of the taxon Elaphrocnemus, a proposed stem group representative of the Cariamae from the late Eocene and Oligocene of the Quercy fissure fillings in France. I. elaphrocnemoides is only the second species of small landbird known from the Paleocene of the Southern Hemisphere. It is tentatively classified in the Cariamae, but we also note morphological similarities of the humerus to that of the palaeognathous Tinamidae. We further describe a Carpometacarpus, which exhibits a peculiar morphology not found in any other avian taxon. This bone also shares some features with tinamous and is of a size corresponding to that of I. elaphrocnemoides, but cannot be referred to this taxon with confidence. We finally report four morphologically different distal tibiotarsi, one of which may belong to Eutreptodactylus itaboraiensis, the only other small bird described from Itaborai.
Cécile Mourer-chauviré - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A new taxon of stem group Galliformes and the earliest record for stem group Cuculidae from the Eocene of Djebel Chambi, Tunisia
2020Co-Authors: Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Rodolphe Tabuce, El Mabrouk Essid, Laurent Marivaux, Hayet Khayati, Monique Vianey-liaudAbstract:A distal tarsometatarsus and a fragment of Carpometacarpus of a small galliform, the size of a recent quail, have been found in the late Early or early Middle Eocene of Chambi, in Tunisia. Although a large number of stem group representatives of Galliformes are known from the Eocene of the Northern Hemisphere, and one from the middle Eocene of Namibia, the taxon from Chambi differs from them and is described as a new genus and species. A very small zygodactyl form, represented by three distal tarsometatarsi, is also present in the same locality. This form, described as a new genus and species, is a stem group representative of the recent family Cuculidae. It shows a plesiomorphic morphology compared to the recent members of the Cuculidae, but it is, however, more derived than the younger genus Eocuculus. It is the earliest Cuculidae known so far.
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First discovery of avian egg and bone remains (Presbyornithidae) from the Gour Lazib (Eocene, Algeria)
Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2020Co-Authors: Géraldine Garcia, Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Mohammed Adaci, Mustapha Bensalah, Fateh Mebrouk, Xavier Valentin, M’hammed Mahboubi, Rodolphe TabuceAbstract:Abstract Numerous avian eggshells and one well-preserved small ovoid-shaped egg (32 × 28 mm) were collected from three localities in the Gour Lazib area (HGL10, HGL51 and HGL62), western Algeria from the Glib Zegdou Formation dated from the late early or early middle Eocene. This material was associated with a rich vertebrate fauna. The study of the eggshells using microscopies (PLM and SEM) led to attribute them to neognathous birds. They are characterized by a thin shell (less than 0.5 mm thick) with a prismatic trilaminate microstructure. The occurrence of an avian Carpometacarpus belonging to the Presbyornithidae from HGL50, which is located one meter below the HGL 51 level, suggests that the egg remains may be referred to this bird family, which is so far unknown in the Palaeogene of the Afro-Arabian continent.
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The Gastornis (Aves, Gastornithidae) from the Late Paleocene of Louvois (Marne, France)
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 2016Co-Authors: Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Estelle BourdonAbstract:The Late Paleocene locality of Louvois is located about 20 km south of Reims, in the department of Marne (France). These marly sediments have yielded numerous vertebrate remains. The Louvois fauna is coeval with those of the localities of Cernay-lès-Reims and Berru and is dated as reference-level MP6, late Thanetian. Here we provide a detailed description of the remains of giant flightless gastornithids that were preliminarily reported in a study of the vertebrate fauna from Louvois. These fragmentary gastornithid remains mainly include a Carpometacarpus, several tarsometatarsi, and numerous pedal phalanges. These new avian fossils add to the fossil record of Gastornis , which has been reported from various Early Paleogene localities in the Northern Hemisphere. Tarsometatarsi and pedal phalanges show large differences in size, which may be interpreted as sexual size dimorphism. The specimens from Louvois are morphologically different from those of Gastornis parisiensis and G. russelli , from Cernay and Berru. The Louvois Carpometacarpus is also different from that of the North American G. giganteus , and the Louvois pedal phalanges are shorter and stouter than in other species of Gastornis . Moreover, the Louvois tarsometatarsi are more similar to that of the much younger G. sarasini , from Monthelon, reference-level MP 10, late Ypresian. We refrain from assigning the Louvois specimens to a new species of Gastornis and we designate it as Gastornis sp., owing to the fragmentary nature of the material. However, the morphological features of the Louvois material are sufficiently distinct for us to propose that three different forms of Gastornis were present in the Late Paleocene of North-eastern France.
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The Gastornis (Aves, Gastornithidae) from the Late Paleocene of Louvois (Marne, France)
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 2015Co-Authors: Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Estelle BourdonAbstract:The Late Paleocene locality of Louvois is located about 20 km south of Reims, in the department of Marne (France). These marly sediments have yielded numerous vertebrate remains. The Louvois fauna is coeval with those of the localities of Cernay-les-Reims and Berru and is dated as reference-level MP6, late Thanetian. Here we provide a detailed description of the remains of giant flightless gastornithids that were preliminarily reported in a study of the vertebrate fauna from Louvois. These fragmentary gastornithid remains mainly include a Carpometacarpus, several tarsometatarsi, and numerous pedal phalanges. These new avian fossils add to the fossil record of Gastornis, which has been reported from various Early Paleogene localities in the Northern Hemisphere. Tarsometatarsi and pedal phalanges show large differences in size, which may be interpreted as sexual size dimorphism. The specimens from Louvois are morphologically different from those of Gastornis parisiensis and G. russelli, from Cernay and Berru. The Louvois Carpometacarpus is also different from that of the North American G. giganteus, and the Louvois pedal phalanges are shorter and stouter than in other species of Gastornis. Moreover, the Louvois tarsometatarsi are more similar to that of the much younger G. sarasini, from Monthelon, reference-level MP 10, late Ypresian. We refrain from assigning the Louvois specimens to a new species of Gastornis and we designate it as Gastornis sp., owing to the fragmentary nature of the material. However, the morphological features of the Louvois material are sufficiently distinct for us to propose that three different forms of Gastornis were present in the Late Paleocene of North-eastern France.
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A small galliform and a small cuculiform from the Eocene of Tunisia
2013Co-Authors: Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Rodolphe Tabuce, Laurent Marivaux, Monique Vianey-liaudAbstract:A distal tarsometatarsus and a fragment of Carpometacarpus of a small galliform, the size of a recent quail, have been found in the late Early or early Middle Eocene of Chambi, in Tunisia. Although a large number of stem group representatives of Galliformes are known from the Eocene of the Northern Hemisphere, and one from the middle Eocene of Namibia, the taxon from Chambi differs from them and is described as a new genus and species. A very small zygodactyl form, represented by three distal tarsometatarsi, is also present in the same locality. This form, described as a new genus and species, is a stem group representative of the recent family Cuculidae. It shows a plesiomorphic morphology compared to the recent members of the Cuculidae, but it is, however, more derived than the younger genus Eocuculus. It is the earliest Cuculidae known so far.
Sergio F. Vizcaíno - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Morphology of the forelimb of Psilopterus bachmanni (Aves, Cariamiformes) (Early Miocene of Patagonia)
Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 2015Co-Authors: Federico J. Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega, Sergio F. VizcaínoAbstract:Psilopterines are the smallest and most gracile predatory birds belonging to the large terrestrial Phorusrhacidae, which were abundant during the South American Tertiary. Two taxa are recognized from the Santacrucian (late Early Miocene) beds of Argentinian Patagonia: Psilopterus lemoinei and Psilopterus bachmanni . Although the first species was recently redescribed and is well known, in the case of P. bachmanni , the smaller of the two, the forelimb skeleton was virtually unknown until recently. The fossils described herein come from the coast of Santa Cruz Province, and were recovered from the middle levels of the Estancia La Costa Member, Santa Cruz Formation. The specimen includes associated bones of both forelimbs and a fragmentary furcula. The manus of this species, previously unknown, is described here for the first time: the os carpi ulnare and radiale are very stout bones, the Carpometacarpus has processi extensorius and alularis very marked and stout and the os metacarpale majus and phalanges digiti majoris are very robust, and the phalanx digiti minoris is flattened. It has been proposed that some species belonging to Psilopterus were able to fly in a clumsy manner. While this work is not intended to certify this condition through complex models, some considerations of the paleobiology of P. bachmanni based on manus movement capabilities and body mass are presented. It seems plausible that P. bachmanni would have had both cursorial and flying capabilities. The information provided here represents an effort to discuss features previously unknown in phorusrhacids and to provide new data that may be useful in future systematic, morpho-functional and evolutionary studies. Phorusrhacidae des taxons Psilopterinae sind die kleinsten und grazilsten Raubvögel der großen terrestrisch lebenden Familie Phorusrhacidae, die im Tertiär von Südamerika sehr häufig war. Zwei Taxa aus dem späten Unter-Miozän (Santacrucium) von Patagonien (Argentinien) sind bekannt: Psilopterus lemoinei und Psilopterus bachmanni . Beide wurden ursprünglich sehr oberflächlich beschrieben. Während die erstere Art erst kürzlich neu beschrieben wurde, war das Skelett der Vordergliedmaßen von P. bachmanni bisher praktisch unbekannt. Die Fossilien, die in dieser Arbeit beschrieben werden, stammen aus der Lokalität Puesto Estancia La Costa (=Corriguen Aike), die in der Santa Cruz Provinz liegt. Sie stammen aus den mittleren Schichten der Estancia La Costa Member, Santa Cruz Formation. Das Exemplar besteht aus assoziierten Knochen beider Vordergliedmaßen und einem Fragment der Furcula. Die Hand dieser Art war bisher unbekannt und wird hier im Rahmen dieser Arbeit das erste Mal beschrieben: Ulnare und Radiale sind beide sehr kräftige Knochen, der Carpometacarpus hat kräftige und markante Processi extensorius et alularis. Das Metacarpale majus und die Phalanges digiti majoris sind sehr robust, die Phalanx digiti minoris ist abgeflacht. Frühere Arbeiten gingen davon aus, dass einige Arten der Gattung Psilopterus auf eine schwerfällige Art fliegen konnten. Diese Arbeit kann diese Annahme nicht bestätigen, aber einige neue Annahmen zur Paläobiologie von P. bachmanni präsentieren, die auf den Fähigkeiten der Handbewegungen und der Körpermasse basieren. Es scheint plausibel, dass P. bachmanni sowohl Merkmale eines Laufvogels als auch für Flugfähigkeit in sich vereint. Diese neuen Erkenntnisse ermöglichen es einige Merkmale, die vorher unbekannt für die Phorusrhacidae waren, neu zu bewerten, und liefern neue Daten für zukünftige systematische, funktionsmorphologische und evolutionäre Studien.
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Morphology of the forelimb of Psilopterus bachmanni (Aves, Cariamiformes) (Early Miocene of Patagonia)
Palaeontologische Zeitschrift, 2015Co-Authors: Federico J. Degrange, Jorge I. Noriega, Sergio F. VizcaínoAbstract:Psilopterines are the smallest and most gracile predatory birds belonging to the large terrestrial Phorusrhacidae, which were abundant during the South American Tertiary. Two taxa are recognized from the Santacrucian (late Early Miocene) beds of Argentinian Patagonia: Psilopterus lemoinei and Psilopterus bachmanni. Although the first species was recently redescribed and is well known, in the case of P. bachmanni, the smaller of the two, the forelimb skeleton was virtually unknown until recently. The fossils described herein come from the coast of Santa Cruz Province, and were recovered from the middle levels of the Estancia La Costa Member, Santa Cruz Formation. The specimen includes associated bones of both forelimbs and a fragmentary furcula. The manus of this species, previously unknown, is described here for the first time: the os carpi ulnare and radiale are very stout bones, the Carpometacarpus has processi extensorius and alularis very marked and stout and the os metacarpale majus and phalanges digiti majoris are very robust, and the phalanx digiti minoris is flattened. It has been proposed that some species belonging to Psilopterus were able to fly in a clumsy manner. While this work is not intended to certify this condition through complex models, some considerations of the paleobiology of P. bachmanni based on manus movement capabilities and body mass are presented. It seems plausible that P. bachmanni would have had both cursorial and flying capabilities. The information provided here represents an effort to discuss features previously unknown in phorusrhacids and to provide new data that may be useful in future systematic, morpho-functional and evolutionary studies.
R. Paul Scofield - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The earliest European record of a Stone-curlew (Charadriiformes, Burhinidae) from the late Oligocene of France
Journal of Ornithology, 2014Co-Authors: Vanesa L. Pietri, R. Paul ScofieldAbstract:Frühester Nachweis eines Triels (Charadriiformes, Burhinidae) in Europa aus dem spät-Oligozän Frankreichs Wir beschreiben neues Material eines kleinen fossilen Triels (Burhinidae, Charadriiformes) aus dem späten-Oligozän (ca 23 Ma) von Coderet-Bransat im Allier Becken in Zentral-Frankreich. Diese Fossil-Lokalität gehört zu den renommierten Saint-Gérand-le-Puy-Fossilfundstellen, welche tausende von fossilen Vogelreste geliefert haben. Das neue Fossil ist der erste Nachweis von Burhinidae in paläogenen und neogenen Ablagerungen Europas, und zusammen mit einem Triel aus dem späten-Oligozän/frühen-Miozän Australiens, stellt es den weltweit frühesten Nachweis dar. Obwohl Genucrassum bransatensis gen. et sp. nov. anhand mutmasslich plesiomorphe Merkmale am Humerus und Carpometacarpus von den Rezenten Burhiniden differenziert werden kann, zeigen wir, dass die untersuchten post-cranialen Elemente bemerkenswert einheitlich innerhalb der Burhinidae sind, und dies sogar in Taxa aus dem späten Oligozän. We describe novel material of a small fossil burhinid (Stone-curlew, thick-knee; Aves: Charadriiformes) from the late Oligocene (ca 23 Ma) of Coderet-Bransat in the Allier Basin of central France. This site is one of the renowned Saint-Gérand-le-Puy fossil localities, which have yielded thousands of fossil bird specimens. This is the first record of the Burhinidae to be described from Paleogene and Neogene deposits of Europe, and, together with the late Oligocene–early Miocene burhinid from Australia, are the earliest records worldwide. Although Genucrassum bransatensis gen. et sp. nov. differs from extant burhinids in some presumably plesiomorphic features of the humerus and Carpometacarpus, we show that the postcranial elements considered here are remarkably uniform within Burhinidae even in late Oligocene taxa.
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The earliest European record of a Stone-curlew (Charadriiformes, Burhinidae) from the late Oligocene of France
Journal of Ornithology, 2013Co-Authors: Vanesa L. Pietri, R. Paul ScofieldAbstract:We describe novel material of a small fossil burhinid (Stone-curlew, thick-knee; Aves: Charadriiformes) from the late Oligocene (ca 23 Ma) of Coderet-Bransat in the Allier Basin of central France. This site is one of the renowned Saint-Gerand-le-Puy fossil localities, which have yielded thousands of fossil bird specimens. This is the first record of the Burhinidae to be described from Paleogene and Neogene deposits of Europe, and, together with the late Oligocene–early Miocene burhinid from Australia, are the earliest records worldwide. Although Genucrassum bransatensis gen. et sp. nov. differs from extant burhinids in some presumably plesiomorphic features of the humerus and Carpometacarpus, we show that the postcranial elements considered here are remarkably uniform within Burhinidae even in late Oligocene taxa.
Estelle Bourdon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Gastornis (Aves, Gastornithidae) from the Late Paleocene of Louvois (Marne, France)
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 2016Co-Authors: Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Estelle BourdonAbstract:The Late Paleocene locality of Louvois is located about 20 km south of Reims, in the department of Marne (France). These marly sediments have yielded numerous vertebrate remains. The Louvois fauna is coeval with those of the localities of Cernay-lès-Reims and Berru and is dated as reference-level MP6, late Thanetian. Here we provide a detailed description of the remains of giant flightless gastornithids that were preliminarily reported in a study of the vertebrate fauna from Louvois. These fragmentary gastornithid remains mainly include a Carpometacarpus, several tarsometatarsi, and numerous pedal phalanges. These new avian fossils add to the fossil record of Gastornis , which has been reported from various Early Paleogene localities in the Northern Hemisphere. Tarsometatarsi and pedal phalanges show large differences in size, which may be interpreted as sexual size dimorphism. The specimens from Louvois are morphologically different from those of Gastornis parisiensis and G. russelli , from Cernay and Berru. The Louvois Carpometacarpus is also different from that of the North American G. giganteus , and the Louvois pedal phalanges are shorter and stouter than in other species of Gastornis . Moreover, the Louvois tarsometatarsi are more similar to that of the much younger G. sarasini , from Monthelon, reference-level MP 10, late Ypresian. We refrain from assigning the Louvois specimens to a new species of Gastornis and we designate it as Gastornis sp., owing to the fragmentary nature of the material. However, the morphological features of the Louvois material are sufficiently distinct for us to propose that three different forms of Gastornis were present in the Late Paleocene of North-eastern France.
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The Gastornis (Aves, Gastornithidae) from the Late Paleocene of Louvois (Marne, France)
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 2015Co-Authors: Cécile Mourer-chauviré, Estelle BourdonAbstract:The Late Paleocene locality of Louvois is located about 20 km south of Reims, in the department of Marne (France). These marly sediments have yielded numerous vertebrate remains. The Louvois fauna is coeval with those of the localities of Cernay-les-Reims and Berru and is dated as reference-level MP6, late Thanetian. Here we provide a detailed description of the remains of giant flightless gastornithids that were preliminarily reported in a study of the vertebrate fauna from Louvois. These fragmentary gastornithid remains mainly include a Carpometacarpus, several tarsometatarsi, and numerous pedal phalanges. These new avian fossils add to the fossil record of Gastornis, which has been reported from various Early Paleogene localities in the Northern Hemisphere. Tarsometatarsi and pedal phalanges show large differences in size, which may be interpreted as sexual size dimorphism. The specimens from Louvois are morphologically different from those of Gastornis parisiensis and G. russelli, from Cernay and Berru. The Louvois Carpometacarpus is also different from that of the North American G. giganteus, and the Louvois pedal phalanges are shorter and stouter than in other species of Gastornis. Moreover, the Louvois tarsometatarsi are more similar to that of the much younger G. sarasini, from Monthelon, reference-level MP 10, late Ypresian. We refrain from assigning the Louvois specimens to a new species of Gastornis and we designate it as Gastornis sp., owing to the fragmentary nature of the material. However, the morphological features of the Louvois material are sufficiently distinct for us to propose that three different forms of Gastornis were present in the Late Paleocene of North-eastern France.