Odontoanserae

Last updated

Odontoanserae
Temporal range: Maastrichtian–Present
Pelagornis mauretanicus.jpg
Goosander looking up.jpg
The skull of Pelagornis mauretanicus (top) and the head of common merganser (bottom) showing the serrated edge common in this group
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Superorder: Galloanserae
Clade: Odontoanserae
Bourdon, 2005
Subgroups

The Odontoanserae is a proposed clade that includes the family Pelagornithidae (pseudo-toothed birds) and the clade Anserimorphae (the order Anseriformes and their stem-relatives). [2] The placement of the pseudo-toothed birds in the evolutionary tree of birds has been problematic, with some supporting the placement of them near the orders Procellariformes and Pelecaniformes based on features in the sternum. [3]

In 2005 a cladistic analysis had found support in placing pseudo-toothed birds as the sister group to waterfowl. [2] Evidence for this comes from shared characteristics in the skull such as lack of a crest on the underside of the palatine bone and two condyles on the mandibular process of the quadrate bone, with the middle condyle beakwards of the side condyle. [2] In addition to that, both groups have similar features in their pelvic and pectoral regions. Furthermore, a 2013 study on the growth pattern and structure of the pseudoteeth in Pelagornis mauretanicus shows more support of Odontoanserae as both groups have "soft rhamphotheca, or delayed hardening of the rhamphotheca." [4] In addition to Pelagornithidae and Anseriformes paleontologists also have support in placing mihirungs (Dromornithidae) and Gastornithids into this group, as they too also share anatomical features in the skull and pelvic bones with waterfowl. [5] [6] [7] The mihirungs and the gastornithids are more derived than the pseudo-tooth birds and are closer to Anseriformes. One hypothesis is that diatrymas and mihirungs are successive sister groups to anseriforms and another hypothesis places mihirungs as crown anseriforms closely related to the screamers (Anhimidae). [6]

Below is the general consensus of the phylogeny. [6] [2] [7] [8] [9]

Odontoanserae

†Pelagornithidae (pseudo-tooth birds) Pelagornis chilensis EF.jpg

Anserimorphae

†Gastornithidae Gastornis giganteus restoration.jpeg

†Dromornithidae (mihirungs) Dromornis BW.jpg

†Vegaviidae Vegavis restoration.jpg

Anseriformes (screamers and waterfowl) Palamedra cornuta white background.png Cayley Anseranas semipalmata white background.jpg Greylag flipped.JPG

However, a 2017 paper by Worthy and colleagues found an alternative phylogeny concerning Anserimorphae. [10] By adding additional new characters, as well as incorporating several new taxa into established matrices, the authors have found gastornithids and mihirungs to be sister taxa which could be placed in the order Gastornithiformes. [10] In addition, they have found support that the family Vegaviidae (usually classified as crown anseriforms or their sister taxon [9] ) are more related to gastornithiforms than to anseriforms; accordingly, they have created the monotypic order Vegaviiformes. [10] The authors did note the bootstrap support is weakly supported and several alternative phylogenies in their paper found gastornithiforms to be stem galliforms instead. [10] These too were weakly supported as well. [10] Below is a simplified phylogeny showing their one phylogeny supporting gastornithiforms as anserimorphs. [10]

Anserimorphae

Anseriformes (screamers and waterfowl) Palamedra cornuta white background.png Cayley Anseranas semipalmata white background.jpg Greylag flipped.JPG

In 2019 a new species Conflicto antarcticus was described from Early Paleocene deposits in Antarctica. [1] Known completely from associated bones from a single individual, Tambussi et al. (2019) incorporated the new taxon into a phylogenetic analysis using the matrix data from Worthy et al. (2017). Their results not only supported the sister grouping of vegaviids with gastornithids and mihirungs (which included Vegaviidae into Gastornithiformes), but also found two taxa, Anatalavis rex and the tall, wading presbyornithids, traditionally placed as part of the anseriform crown, [11] to be stem-anseriforms. [1] Below is the Tambussi et al. (2019) phylogeny. [1]

Anserimorphae
†Gastornithiformes
Anseriformes  sensu lato

†Presbyornithidae Presbyornis Enhancement.jpg

Anseriformes (screamers and waterfowl) Palamedra cornuta white background.png Cayley Anseranas semipalmata white background.jpg Greylag flipped.JPG

In 2024, the Gastornithiformes was recovered as a paraphyletic clade closer to basal Galliformes, while the Dromornithidae was recovered within or close to the Anseriformes. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anseriformes</span> Order of water birds

Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae, Anseranatidae, and Anatidae, the largest family, which includes over 170 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. Most modern species in the order are highly adapted for an aquatic existence at the water surface. With the exception of screamers, males have penises, a trait that has been lost in the Neoaves, the clade consisting of all other modern birds except the landfowl sister order and the paleognath infraclass. Due to their aquatic nature, most species are web-footed.

<i>Vegavis</i> Extinct genus of birds

Vegavis is a genus of extinct bird that lived in Antarctica during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. The type species is Vegavis iaai. Vegavis was initially considered to be a member of Anseriformes within Galloanserae, but this claim has not been supported by some recent studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dromornithidae</span> Extinct family of birds

Dromornithidae, known as mihirungs and informally as thunder birds or demon ducks, were a clade of large, flightless Australian birds of the Oligocene through Pleistocene epochs. All are now extinct. They were long classified in Struthioniformes, but are now usually classified as galloanseres. Dromornithids were part of the Australian megafauna. One species, Dromornis stirtoni, was 3 m tall. Only a single species, Genyornis newtoni survived into the Late Pleistocene. They are thought to have been herbivorous.

<i>Presbyornis</i> Extinct genus of birds

Presbyornis is an extinct genus of presbyornithid bird from North America during the Paleogene period, between the Late Paleocene and Early Eocene.

<i>Brontornis</i> Extinct genus of birds

Brontornis is an extinct genus of giant bird that inhabited Argentina during the Early to Middle Miocene. Its taxonomic position is highly controversial, with authors alternatively considering it to be a cariamiform, typically a phorusrhacid or an anserimorph.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelagornithidae</span> Extinct family of seabirds

The Pelagornithidae, commonly called pelagornithids, pseudodontorns, bony-toothed birds, false-toothed birds or pseudotooth birds, are a prehistoric family of large seabirds. Their fossil remains have been found all over the world in rocks dating between the Early Paleocene and the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastornithiformes</span> Extinct order of birds

Gastornithiformes are an extinct order of giant flightless fowl with fossils found in North America, Eurasia, possibly Australia. Members of Gastornithidae were long considered to be a part of the order Gruiformes. However, the traditional concept of Gruiformes has since been shown to be polyphyletic.

Teviornis is an extinct genus of presbyornithid which lived during the Maastrichtian stage, around 70 million years ago. One species has been described, T. gobiensis. It is the oldest known neognath and its fossils are collected from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia.

<i>Odontopteryx</i> Extinct genus of birds

Odontopteryx is a genus of the extinct pseudotooth birds or pelagornithids. These were probably rather close relatives of either pelicans and storks, or of waterfowl, and are here placed in the order Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.

Cyphornis is a genus of the prehistoric pseudotooth birds. These were probably rather close relatives of either pelicans and storks, or of waterfowl, and are here placed in the order Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.

<i>Dasornis</i> Extinct genus of birds

Dasornis is a genus of prehistoric pseudotooth birds. These were probably close relatives of either pelicans and storks or waterfowl; they are placed in the order Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.

Palaeochenoides is a genus of the prehistoric pseudotooth birds of somewhat doubtful validity. These were probably rather close relatives of either pelicans and storks, or of waterfowl, and are here placed in the order Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.

<i>Pelagornis</i> Extinct genus of birds

Pelagornis is an extinct genus of prehistoric pseudotooth birds, a group of extinct seabirds. Species span from the Oligocene to the Early Pleistocene. Members of Pelagornis represent among the largest pseudotooth birds, with one species. P. sandersi, having the widest wingspan of any bird known.

Macrodontopteryx is a genus of the prehistoric pseudotooth birds of somewhat doubtful validity. These animals were probably rather close relatives of either pelicans and storks, or of waterfowl, and are here placed in the order Odontopterygiformes to account for this uncertainty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pangalliformes</span> Clade of birds

Pangalliformes is the scientific name of a provisional clade of birds within the group Galloanserae. It is defined as all birds more closely related to chickens than to ducks, and includes all modern chickens, turkeys, pheasants, and megapodes, as well as extinct species that do not fall within the crown group Galliformes.

Wilaru is an extinct genus of presbyornithid bird from Australia during the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene, around 26-22 million years ago. The type species is Wilaru tedfordi, and the second species is Wilaru prideauxi.

<i>Garganornis</i> Extinct genus of birds

Garganornis is an extinct genus of enormous flightless anatid waterfowl from the Late Miocene of Gargano, Italy. The genus contains one species, G. ballmanni, named by Meijer in 2014. Its enormous size is thought to have been an adaptation to living in exposed, open areas with no terrestrial predators, and as a deterrent to the indigenous aerial predators like the eagle Garganoaetus and the giant barn owl Tyto gigantea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vegaviidae</span> Extinct family of birds

Vegaviidae is an extinct family of birds of uncertain phylogenetic placement, which existed during the Late Cretaceous and possibly the Paleocene. Definitive fossils attributed to the family have only been found in Antarctica, though other fossils from the Southern Hemisphere including Chile and New Zealand may represent this group. The putative Campanian vegaviid from Canada known as Maaqwi, more likely belongs to the Procellariformes.

<i>Conflicto antarcticus</i> Extinct species of bird

Conflicto antarcticus is a species of stem waterfowl whose fossils were found in the early Paleocene López de Bertodano Formation of Antarctica, the only species of its genus and the family Conflictonidae. It is characterized by it slender body and long legs, yet possesses a duck-like bill which indicates the form of beak evolved early in Anseriformes.

Wunketru is an extinct genus of waterfowl from the Eocene Las Flores Formation of Chubut Province, Argentina. The genus contains a single species, Wunketru howardae, known from a partial skeleton previously classified as a species of Telmabates.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Claudia P. Tambussi; Federico J. Degrange; Ricardo S. De Mendoza; Emilia Sferco; Sergrio Santillana (2019). "A stem anseriform from the early Palaeocene of Antarctica provides new key evidence in the early evolution of waterfowl". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 186 (3): 673–700. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly085.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bourdon, E. (2005). "Osteological evidence for sister group relationship between pseudo-toothed birds (Aves: Odontopterygiformes) and waterfowls (Anseriformes)". Naturwissenschaften. 92 (12): 586–91. Bibcode:2005NW.....92..586B. doi:10.1007/s00114-005-0047-0. PMID   16240103. S2CID   9453177.
  3. ↑ Mayr, G.; Hazevoet, C.J.; Dantas, P.; Cachão, M. (2008). "A Sternum of a Very Large Bony-Toothed Bird (Pelagornithidae) from the Miocene of Portugal". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28 (3): 762–769. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[762:asoavl]2.0.co;2. S2CID   129386456.
  4. ↑ Louchart, A.; Sire, J.-Y.; Mourer-Chauviré, C.; Geraads, D.; Viriot, L.; de Buffrénil, V. (2013). "Structure and Growth Pattern of Pseudoteeth in Pelagornis mauretanicus (Aves, Odontopterygiformes, Pelagornithidae)". PLOS ONE. 8 (11): e80372. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...880372L. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080372 . PMC   3828250 . PMID   24244680.
  5. ↑ Andors, A. (1992). "Reappraisal of the Eocene groundbird Diatryma (Aves: Anserimorphae)". Science Series Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. 36: 109–125.
  6. 1 2 3 Murrary, P.F; Vickers-Rich, P. (2004). Magnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian Dreamtime. Indiana University Press.
  7. 1 2 Agnolín, F. (2007). "Brontornis burmeisteri Moreno & Mercerat, un Anseriformes (Aves) gigante del Mioceno Medio de Patagonia, Argentina". Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales. 9: 15–25. doi: 10.22179/revmacn.9.361 .
  8. ↑ Livezey, B.C.; Zusi, R.L. (2007). "Higher-order phylogeny of modern birds (Theropoda, Aves: Neornithes) based on comparative anatomy. II. Analysis and discussion". The Science of Nature. 149 (1): 1–95. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00293.x. PMC   2517308 . PMID   18784798.
  9. 1 2 Agnolín, F.L.; Egli, F.B.; Chatterjee, S.; Marsà, J.A.G (2017). "Vegaviidae, a new clade of southern diving birds that survived the K/T boundary". The Science of Nature. 104 (87): 87. Bibcode:2017SciNa.104...87A. doi:10.1007/s00114-017-1508-y. PMID   28988276. S2CID   13246547.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Worthy, T.H.; Degrange, F.J.; Handley, W.D.; Lee, M.S.Y. (2017). "The evolution of giant flightless birds and novel phylogenetic relationships for extinct fowl (Aves, Galloanseres)". Royal Society Open Science. 11 (10): 170975. Bibcode:2017RSOS....470975W. doi:10.1098/rsos.170975. PMC   5666277 . PMID   29134094.
  11. ↑ Vanesa L. De Pietri; R. Paul Scofield; Nikita Zelenkov; Walter E. Boles; Trevor H. Worthy (2016). "The unexpected survival of an ancient lineage of anseriform birds into the Neogene of Australia: the youngest record of Presbyornithidae". Royal Society Open Science. 3 (2): 150635. Bibcode:2016RSOS....350635D. doi:10.1098/rsos.150635. PMC   4785986 . PMID   26998335.
  12. ↑ McInerney, Phoebe L.; Blokland, Jacob C.; Worthy, Trevor H. (2024-06-02). "Skull morphology of the enigmatic Genyornis newtoni Stirling and Zeitz, 1896 (Aves, Dromornithidae), with implications for functional morphology, ecology, and evolution in the context of Galloanserae". Historical Biology. 36 (6): 1093–1165. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2308212 . ISSN   0891-2963.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.