Les Sagittariidae fossiles (Aves, Accipitriformes) de l'Oligocène des phosphorites du Quercy et du Miocène inférieur de Saint-Gérand-le-Puy
Abstract
In the fossiliferous deposits of the «Phosphorites du Quercy as of Saint-Gérand-le-Puy, the distal ends of tibiotarsi and tarsometatarsi described as Pelargopappus, and assigned to the Ciconiidae, are identical to those later described as Amphiserpentarius, assigned to the Sagittariidae. According to the rule of priority these forms must be designated under the generic name of Pelargopappus and this taxon must be transferred to the family Sagittariidae. The genus Amynoptilon, created by J. Cracraft and P.V. Rich (1972) to designate the complete tarsometatarsus of Secretary-bird of Saint-Gérand-le-Puy, is a junior synonym of Pelargopappus. The two species recognized in the genus Pelargopappus are P. schlosseri in the «Phosphorites du Quercy and P. magnus in Saint-Gérand-le-Puy. This genus seems too evolved to be the ancestor of recent Sagittariidae (only one genus, Sagittarius, from Africa) and rather represents a vicariant group.
- Publication:
-
Géobios
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0016-6995(83)80104-1
- Bibcode:
- 1983Geobi..16..443M