Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A stem falconid bird from the Lower Eocene of Antarctica and the early southern radiation of the falcons

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ornithology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Antarctoboenus carlinii nov. gen. nov. sp. is a large-sized falconiform bird from the La Meseta Formation (Lower Eocene) at Seymour (Marambio) Island, West Antarctica. The holotypical tarsometatarsus was originally assigned to Falconidae and its affinities to Polyborinae were pointed out. Detailed osteological and comparative analyses of the Antarctic specimen allowed recognition of the new taxon as a member of stem group Falconidae, i.e. it is supposed to belong to the early radiation of the falconiform lineage. Antarctoboenus carlinii is distinguished from members of crown group Falconidae by having a very shallow sulcus extensorius, a large foramen vasculare distale, an undistinguishable tendinal attachment for the m. adductor digiti II, and short trochlea metatarsi II, among its main diagnostic characters. Purported phylogenetic relationships between A. carlinii and Polyborinae are based on plesiomorphic characters retained in the tarsometatarsus of the latter clade. Our conclusions reinforce the hypothesis about the Neotropical or Austral origin of Falconidae supported by previous molecular phylogenies.

Zusammenfassung

Ein der Stammgruppe Falconidae angehörender Vogel aus dem Untereozän der Antarktis und die frühe südliche Radiation der Falken

Antarctoboenus carlinii nov. gen. nov. sp. ist ein großer falkenartiger Vogel aus der La Meseta Formation (Untereozän) auf der Seymour-Insel (Isla Marambio) in der Westantarktis. Der Holotyp-Tarsometatarsus wurde ursprünglich den Falconidae (Falkenartigen) zugeordnet, und seine Ähnlichkeiten mit den Polyborinae (Geierfalken) wurden hervorgehoben. Detaillierte osteologische und vergleichende Analysen des Antarktis-Exemplars ermöglichten es, das neue Taxon als ein Mitglied der Stammgruppe Falconidae anzuerkennen, d.h. es gehört vermutlich der frühen Radiation der Falconiformes-Abstammungslinie an. Antarctoboenus carlinii unterscheidet sich von den Mitgliedern der Kronengruppe Falconidae durch mehrere diagnostische Merkmale, u.a. einen sehr flachen sulcus extensorius, ein großes foramen vasculare distale, einen undeutlichen Sehnenansatz für den m. adductor digiti II und kurze trochlea metatarsi II. Angebliche phylogenetische Beziehungen zwischen A. carlinii und Polyborinae basieren auf plesiomorphen Merkmalen, die im Tarsometatarsus der Polyborinae erhalten sind. Unsere Schlussfolgerungen stärken die Hypothese eines Neotropen- oder Austral-Ursprungs der Falconidae, die auch von bisherigen molekularen Stammbäumen gestützt wird.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ameghino F (1895) Sur les Oiseaux fossiles de Patagonie. Bol Inst Geogr Arg 15:301–660

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumel J, Witmer LM (1993) Osteologia. In: Baumel J, King A, Breazile J et al (eds) Handbook of avian anatomy: nomina anatomica avium. Publ Nuttall Orn Cl, Massachusetts, pp 45–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker JJ (1987) Revision of “Falco” ramenta Wetmore and the Neogene evolution of the Falconidae. Auk 104:270–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodkorb P (1964) Catalogue of fossil birds. Part II. Anseriformes through Galliformes. Bull Florida State Mus 8:195–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Cenizo M, Tassara D (2013) Nuevos registros fósi-les del Halcón Plomizo (Falco femoralis Temminck, 1822; Falconidae) en el Pleistoceno del centro-este de Argentina. Historia Natural 3:13–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Cenizo M, Tambussi CP, Montalvo CI (2012) Upper Miocene continental birds from the Cerro Azul Formation in Pampean Region (South-Central Argentina). Alcheringa 36:47–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiappe LM (1991) Fossil birds from the Miocene Pinturas Formation of Southern Argentina. J Vert Paleontol 11:21A–22A

    Google Scholar 

  • Emslie SD, Guerra Correa C (2003) A new species of penguin (Spheniscidae: Spheniscus) and other birds from the late Pliocene of Chile. Proc Biol Soc Wash 116:308–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericson PGP (2008) Current perspectives on the evolution of birds. Contrib Zool 77:109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericson PGP (2012) Evolution of terrestrial birds in three continents: biogeography and parallel radiations. J Biogeogr 39:813–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ericson PGP, Anderson CL, Britton T et al (2006) Diversification of Neoaves: integration of molecular sequence data and fossils. Bio Lett 2:543–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feduccia A (1996) The origin and evolution of birds. Yale University, New Haven and London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson-Lees J, Christie DA (2001) Raptors of the World. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs J, Chen S, Johnson JA, Mindell DP (2011) Pliocene diversification within the South American forest-falcons (Falconidae: Micrastur). Mol Phylogenet Evol 60:398–407

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs J, Johnson JA, Mindell DP (2012) Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae: Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Ibis 154:520–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs J, Johnson JA, Mindell DP (2015) Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the Late Miocene. Mol Phylogenet Evol 82:166–182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths CS (1999) Phylogeny of the Falconidae inferred from molecular and morphological data. Auk 116:116–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths CS, Barrowclough GF, Groth JG, Mertz L (2004) Phylogeny of the Falconidae (Aves): a comparison of the efficacy of morphological, mitochondrial, and nuclear data. Mol Phylogenet Evol 32:101–109

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hackett SJ, Kimball RT, Reddy S et al (2008) A phylogenomic study of birds reveals their evolutionary history. Science 320:1763–1767

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison CJO (1982) A new tiny raptor from the Lower Eocene of England. Ardea 70:77–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison CJO (1984) Further additions to the fossil birds of Sheppey: a new falconid and three small rails. Tert Res 5:179–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis ED, Mirarab S, Aberer AJ et al (2014) Whole-genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds. Science 346:1320–1331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jollie M (1976) A contribution to the morphology and phylogeny of the Falconiformes. Pt. I. Evol Theor 1:285–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Jollie M (1977a) A contribution to the morphology and phylogeny of the Falconiformes. Pt. II. Evol Theor 2:115–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Jollie M (1977b) A contribution to the morphology and phylogeny of the Falconiformes. Pt. III. Evol Theor 2:209–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Jollie M (1977c) A contribution to the morphology and phylogeny of the Falconiformes. Pt. IV. Evol Theor 3:1–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambrecht K (1933) Handbuch der Palaeornithologie. Verlag Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Zhou Z, Deng T, Li Q, Clarke JA (2014) A falconid from the Late Miocene of northwestern China yields further evidence of transition in Late Neogene steppe communities. Auk 131:335–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marenssi SA, Santillana SN, Rinaldi CA (1998) Stratigraphy of La Meseta Formation (Eocene), Marambio Island, Antarctica. In: Casadío S (ed) Paleógeno de América del Sur y de la Península Antártica. Revista de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina, Publicación Especial 5, pp 137–146

  • Mayr G (2005) The Paleogene fossil record of birds in Europe. Biol Rev 80:515–542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr G (2006) A new raptorial bird from the Middle Eocene of Messel, Germany. Historical Biol 18:95–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr G (2009) Paleogene fossil birds. Springer, Heidelberg

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • McCormack JE, Harvey MG, Faircloth BC et al (2013) A phylogeny of birds based on over 1500 loci collected by target enrichment and high-through put sequencing. PLoS One 8:e54848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Montes M, Nozal F, Santillana S, Marenssi S, Olivero E (2013) Mapa Geológico de Isla Marambio (Seymour), Antártida; escala 1:20.000. 1ª edición. Serie Cartográfica

  • Mourer-Chauviré C (2006) The avifauna of the Eocene and Oligocene Phosphorites du Quercy (France): an updated list. Strata 13:5–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Noriega JI, Areta JI, Vizcaíno SF, Bargo MS (2011) Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Patagonian Miocene Falcon Thegornis musculosus Ameghino, 1895 (Aves: Falconidae). J Paleo 85:1089–1104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olson SL (1976) The affinities of the falconid genus Spiziapteryx. Auk 93:633–636

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson SL (1985) The fossil record of birds. In: Farner DS, King JR, Parkes KC (eds) Avian biology, vol 8. Academic Press, New York, pp 79–238

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Peters DS (1988) Fossil birds from the oil shale of Messel (Lower Middle Eocene). In: Ouellet H (ed) Acta XIX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologici. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, pp 2056–2064

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters DS (1991) Zoogeographical relationships of the Eocene avifauna from Messel (Germany). In: Bell B, Cossee RO, Flux JEC et al (eds) Acta XX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologici. New Zealand Ornithological Congress Trust Board, Christchurch, pp 572–577

    Google Scholar 

  • Reguero MA, Goin F, Acosta Hospitaleche C, Dutra T, Marenssi SA (2013) Late Cretaceous/Eocene West Antarctica Biota and Its Intercontinental Affinities. Springer Briefs in Earth System Sciences

  • Remsen JV, Cadena CD, Jaramillo A et al (2008) A classification of the bird species of South America. Proposal no. 383. http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html. American Ornithologists’ Union

  • Tambussi CP, Acosta Hospitaleche C (2007) Antarctic birds (Neornithes) during the Cretaceous-Eocene times. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 62:604–617

    Google Scholar 

  • Tambussi CP, Degrange F (2013) South American and Antarctic Continental Cenozoic Birds: Paleobiogeographic Affinities and Disparities. Springer Briefs in Earth System Sciences

  • Tambussi CP, Noriega JI, Santillana S, Marenssi S (1995) Falconid bird from the Middle Eocene La Meseta Formation, Seymour Island. West Antarctica. J Vert Paleontol 15:55A

    Google Scholar 

  • Tonni EP (1980) The present state of knowledge of the Cenozoic birds of Argentina. Contr Sci Mus Nat His Los Angeles 330:104–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang N, Braun EL, Kimball RT (2012) Testing hypotheses about the sister group of the Passeriformes using an independent 30 locus dataset. Mol Biol Evol 29:737–750

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wetmore A (1922) Remains of birds from caves in the Republic of Haiti. Smithson Misc Collect 74:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetmore A (1936) Two new species of hawks from the Miocene of Nebraska. Proc USA Nat Mus 84:73–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wetmore A (1960) A classification for the birds of the world. Smithson Misc Collect 139:1–37

    Google Scholar 

  • White CM, Olsen PF, Kiff LF (1994) Family Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras). In: del Hoyo J, Elliot A, Sargatal J (eds) Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol 2., New World Vultures to GuineafowlLynx Edicions, Barcelona, pp 216–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Wink M, Sauer-Gürth H (2004) Phylogenetic relationships in diurnal raptors based on nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear marker genes. In: Chancellor RD, Meyburg BU (eds) Raptors Worldwide. World Working Group on Birds of Prey, Berlin; and MME/BirdLife Hungary, Budapest, pp. 483–498

  • Yuri T, Kimball RT, Harshman J et al (2013) Parsimony and model-based analyses of indels in avian nuclear genes reveal congruent and incongruent phylogenetic signals. Biology 2:419–444

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Y. Davies (MACN), P. Tubaro (MACN), H. Alvarenga (MHNT), and S. Bogan (FHN) for assistance during our visits to collections under their care. We especially acknowledge the Instituto Antártico Argentino and Fuerza Aérea Argentina, which provided logistical support for our participation in the Antarctic fieldwork. Finally, we thank B. Lindow and an anonymous reviewer for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área Paleontología, Museo Provincial de Historia Natural, Pellegrini 180, 6300, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina

    Marcos Cenizo

  2. Fundación de Historia Natural Félix de Azara, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropología, CEBBAD-Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BDB, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Marcos Cenizo

  3. Laboratorio de Paleontología de Vertebrados, CICYTTP-CONICET, UADER, Materi and España, 3105, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina

    Jorge I. Noriega

  4. Instituto Antártico Argentino, Balcarce 290, C1064AAF, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Marcelo A. Reguero

Authors
  1. Marcos Cenizo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jorge I. Noriega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcelo A. Reguero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcos Cenizo.

Additional information

Communicated by J. Fjeldså.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cenizo, M., Noriega, J.I. & Reguero, M.A. A stem falconid bird from the Lower Eocene of Antarctica and the early southern radiation of the falcons. J Ornithol 157, 885–894 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1316-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-015-1316-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation