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A well-preserved ‘charadriiform-like’ fossil bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

A well-preserved ‘charadriiform-like’ fossil bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
A well-preserved ‘charadriiform-like’ fossil bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
We describe a new, exceptionally well-preserved fossil bird recovered from marine deposits of the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Morsoravis sedilis gen. et sp. nov. is known by a single specimen that consists of a three-dimensional skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and left hindlimb and associated parts of the right hindlimb. Comparisons based on overall morphology and particularly characters of the skull, vertebrae and pelvis indicate that the new specimen is morphologically similar to charadriiform birds (the shorebirds and relatives). This similarity is also expressed by a phylogenetic analysis of higher neornithine (modern birds) taxa, which supports a close relationship between the new fossil and modern charadriiforms. The morphology of the hindlimbs, in particular, shows that the new fossil corresponds to a new taxon that is distinguishable from modern charadriiform clades. One interesting aspect of its morphology is the presence of hindlimb specializations that are most commonly found among perching birds – these suggest that ecologically the new Danish fossil bird may have differed from the wading habits typical of most charadriiforms.
aves, charadriiformes, palaeogene, eocene, denmark
0031-0239
507-531
Bertelli, Sara
a89c6695-a7f1-460f-908b-09b38171d08b
Lindow, Bent E.K.
636ff270-0b9f-449d-bb1f-af9fd664b147
Dyke, Gareth J.
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94
Chiappe, Luis M.
e0daad1e-f962-48d2-8f94-84e1ab02896d
Bertelli, Sara
a89c6695-a7f1-460f-908b-09b38171d08b
Lindow, Bent E.K.
636ff270-0b9f-449d-bb1f-af9fd664b147
Dyke, Gareth J.
600ca61e-b40b-4c86-b8ae-13be4e331e94
Chiappe, Luis M.
e0daad1e-f962-48d2-8f94-84e1ab02896d

Bertelli, Sara, Lindow, Bent E.K., Dyke, Gareth J. and Chiappe, Luis M. (2010) A well-preserved ‘charadriiform-like’ fossil bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Palaeontology, 53 (3), 507-531. (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00950.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We describe a new, exceptionally well-preserved fossil bird recovered from marine deposits of the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Morsoravis sedilis gen. et sp. nov. is known by a single specimen that consists of a three-dimensional skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and left hindlimb and associated parts of the right hindlimb. Comparisons based on overall morphology and particularly characters of the skull, vertebrae and pelvis indicate that the new specimen is morphologically similar to charadriiform birds (the shorebirds and relatives). This similarity is also expressed by a phylogenetic analysis of higher neornithine (modern birds) taxa, which supports a close relationship between the new fossil and modern charadriiforms. The morphology of the hindlimbs, in particular, shows that the new fossil corresponds to a new taxon that is distinguishable from modern charadriiform clades. One interesting aspect of its morphology is the presence of hindlimb specializations that are most commonly found among perching birds – these suggest that ecologically the new Danish fossil bird may have differed from the wading habits typical of most charadriiforms.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 14 May 2010
Published date: May 2010
Keywords: aves, charadriiformes, palaeogene, eocene, denmark
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 205167
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/205167
ISSN: 0031-0239
PURE UUID: 93a1ac3e-59a1-48a6-9f56-3a1a206fe270

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Date deposited: 07 Dec 2011 10:23
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:33

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Contributors

Author: Sara Bertelli
Author: Bent E.K. Lindow
Author: Gareth J. Dyke
Author: Luis M. Chiappe

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