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Another charadriiform-like bird from the lower Eocene of Denmark

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An Erratum to this article was published on 04 December 2014

Abstract

We describe an exceptionally well-preserved partial skeleton of a new bird from the early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Like other fossils from these marine deposits, the partial skeleton is three-dimensionally preserved and articulated. This new Danish specimen consists of a skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and hindlimbs. Concerning characters of the pelvis, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus, the new fossil bears morphological affinities to charadriiform birds (shorebirds and relatives). A phylogenetic analysis of higher neomithine (modern birds) taxa also supports a close relationship between the new specimen and modern Charadriiformes. The morphologies of the skull and vertebrae, however, distinguish the new fossil from all recent charadriiform families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundacioń Miguel Lillo-CONICET, Miguel Lillo 251, 4000 San Miguel de Tucumań, Tucumań, Argentina

    S. Bertelli

  2. Geological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, DK-1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    B. E. K. Lindow

  3. Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO 14 3ZH, UK

    G. J. Dyke

  4. Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Sektion Ornithologie, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    G. Mayr

Authors
  1. S. Bertelli
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  2. B. E. K. Lindow
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  3. G. J. Dyke
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  4. G. Mayr
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Correspondence to S. Bertelli.

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Bertelli, S., Lindow, B.E.K., Dyke, G.J. et al. Another charadriiform-like bird from the lower Eocene of Denmark. Paleontol. J. 47, 1282–1301 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030113110026

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