Ramphastosula (aves, Sulidae): a new genus from the early pliocene of the pisco formation, Peru

Enviado por Asociacion para la Investigacion y Conservacion de la Biodiversidad AICB

Resúmen

Cranial material from a new genus (Ramphastosula) of Sulidae
is described. The material comes from the Early–Lower
Pliocene of the Pisco Formation of the central-southern coast of
Peru. The skulls are characterized by (1) remarkable convex
curvature of the dorsal surface and straight ventral surface of
the rostrum, only with a curvature on the third anterior part and
the tip of the bill; (2) well developed occipital and temporal
regions; (3) broad opisthotic process projecting to the level of
postorbital processes; (4) broad temporal fossa, and (5) flat
braincase and robust frontal region.

The oldest records of the Sulidae come from the late Eocene of
Europe: Masillastega rectirostris Mayr, 2002, from Messel
(Germany) and Eostega lebedinskyi Lambrecht, 1929, from
Cluj-Manastur (Romania). M. rectirostris was described as a
possible member of the Sulidae. Mayr was also uncertain about the
classification and dating of E. lebedinskyi (Mayr, 2002:507).
However, Mli´kovsky´ (2002) indicated that the
classification.

 Ver trabajo completo (PDF)

Enviado por Asociacion para la Investigacion y Conservacion de la Biodiversidad AICB