Paleogene Fossil Birds (eBook)

Preface 5
Acknowledgements 6
Contents 7
Chapter 1 Introduction 12
Chapter 2 Stratigraphy and Major Fossil Localities 15
2.1 Europe 15
2.2 Asia 17
2.3 North America 18
2.4 Central and South America 19
2.5 Africa 20
2.6 Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica 20
Chapter 3 Higher-Level Phylogeny of Extant Birds 22
Chapter 4 Mesozoic Neornithes 28
Chapter 5 Palaeognathous Birds 33
5.1 †Lithornithidae 34
5.2 †Palaeotididae, †Remiornithidae, and †Eleutherornithidae 36
5.3 †Eremopezidae 39
5.4 Rheidae (Rheas) 40
5.5 Casuariidae (Emus and Cassowaries) 41
5.6 Putative Ratite from the Eocene of Antarctica 41
Chapter 6 Galloanseres 42
6.1 Galliformes (Landfowl) 42
6.2 †Gastornithidae 51
6.3 †Dromornithidae 54
6.4 Anseriformes (Waterfowl) 55
6.5 †Pelagornithidae (Bony-Toothed Birds) 62
Chapter 7 Aquatic and Semiaquatic Taxa 67
7.1 Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) and Suloidea (Gannets, Boobies, Cormorants, and Anhingas) 67
7.2 †Plotopteridae 73
7.3 Sphenisciformes (Penguins) 76
7.4 Gaviiformes (Loons) 81
7.5 Procellariiformes (Tubenoses) 82
7.6 Scopidae (Hamerkop), Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill), and Pelecanidae (Pelicans) 86
7.7 Ardeidae (Herons) 86
7.8 †Xenerodiopidae 87
7.9 Threskiornithidae (Ibises) 87
7.10 Ciconiidae (Storks) 90
7.11 †Prophaethontidae and Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds) 90
Chapter 8 Charadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies) 93
8.1 Lari (Gulls, Auks, and Allies) 94
8.2 Charadrii (Plovers and Allies) 95
8.3 Scolopaci (Sandpipers and Allies) 96
Chapter 9 “Core-Gruiformes” (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) 98
9.1 †Messelornithidae and †Walbeckornis 98
9.2 Ralloidea (Finfoots and Rails) 101
9.3 Gruoidea (Trumpeters, Limpkins, and Cranes) 104
Chapter 10 Phoenicopteriformes (Flamingos) and Podicipediformes (Grebes) 109
Chapter 11 Columbiformes (Doves and Sandgrouse), Cuculiformes (Cuckoos), and Other Neoavian Taxa of Uncertain Affinities 114
11.1 Columbiformes (Doves and Sandgrouse) 114
11.2 Opisthocomiformes (Hoatzin) 115
11.3 †Foratidae 115
11.4 Musophagiformes (Turacos) 116
11.5 Cuculiformes (Cuckoos) 116
11.6 †Pumiliornis and †Morsoravis 117
11.7 †Parvicuculidae 118
11.8 Otididae (Bustards), Eurypygidae (Sunbittern), Rhynochetidae (Kagu), and Mesitornithidae (Mesites) 119
Chapter 12 “Caprimulgiformes” and Apodiformes (Nightjars and Allies, Swifts, and Hummingbirds) 121
12.1 †Fluvioviridavidae 121
12.2 Steatornithidae (Oilbirds) 126
12.3 Podargidae (Frogmouths) 126
12.4 †Protocypselomorphus 127
12.5 †Archaeotrogonidae 128
12.6 Nyctibiidae (Potoos) and Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) 130
12.7 Aegothelidae (Owlet-Nightjars) and Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds) 131
Chapter 13 Cariamae (Seriemas and Allies) 141
13.1 †Phorusrhacidae 141
13.2 †Idiornithidae and †Elaphrocnemus 144
13.3 †Bathornithidae 148
13.4 †Ameghinornithidae 150
13.5 †Salmilidae 152
13.6 †Gradiornis 154
Chapter 14 “Falconiformes” (Diurnal Birds of Prey) 155
14.1 Falconidae (Falcons) 155
14.2 †Masillaraptor 157
14.3 †Teratornithidae and Cathartidae (New Word Vultures) 158
14.4 †Horusornithidae 160
14.5 Sagittariidae (Secretary Birds), Pandionidae (Ospreys), and Accipitridae (Hawks and Allies) 160
Chapter 15 Strigiformes (Owls) 164
15.1 †Berruornis and †Sophiornithidae 164
15.2 †Protostrigidae 165
15.3 †Ogygoptyngidae 166
15.4 †Necrobyinae, †Palaeoglaucidae, and †Selenornithinae 167
Chapter 16 Arboreal Birds 170
16.1 Leptosomidae (Courols) 170
16.2 Coliiformes (Mousebirds) 172
16.3 Psittaciformes (Parrots) 178
16.4 †Zygodactylidae and Passeriformes (Passerines) 185
16.5 Trogoniformes (Trogons) 192
16.6 Bucerotes (Hornbills, Hoopoes, and Woodhoopoes) 192
16.7 Coraciidae/Brachypteraciidae (Rollers and Ground Rollers) 195
16.8 Alcediniformes (Bee-Eaters, Kingfishers, Todies, and Motmots) 198
16.9 Piciformes (Jacamars, Puffbirds, Woodpeckers, and Allies) 200
16.10 †Gracilitarsidae 202
16.11 †Cladornithidae 204
Chapter 17 Paleogene Avifaunas: Synopsis of General Aspects 206
17.1 Continental Avifaunas of the Northern Hemisphere 206
17.2 Continental Avifaunas of the Southern Hemisphere 210
17.3 Ecological Interactions 215
Appendix 221
References 227
Index 254