Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cenozoic phoenicopteriform birds from central Asia

  • Published:
Paleontological Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new phoenicopteriform bird, Palaelodus kurochkini sp. nov., is described from the terminal middle Miocene of Mongolia (the Sharga locality) on the basis of a partial tibiotarsus and tentatively associated fragmentary tarsometatarsus, carpometacarpus and proximal phalanx of the major wing digit. This is the first record of the extinct phoenicopteriform family Palaelodidae in Asia and shows that the genus Palaelodus is one of few taxa in the Sharga fauna to have a wide distribution range. Two other fossils of Phoenicopteriform birds from the Cenozoic of Central Asia are also restudied in this work; Agnopterus turgaiensis from the early Oligocene of Kazakhstan is provisionally placed within the extant family Phoenicopteridae, and Cygnopterus lambrechti, also from the Lower Oligocene of Kazakhstan, is identified as belonging to an indeterminate phoenicopteriform family.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agnolin, F.L., A new species of the genus Megapaleolodus (Aves: Phoenicopteridae: Palaelodinae) from the upper Miocene of Northwestern Argentina, Rev. Mus. Argentino Cienc. Nat., 2009, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alvarenga, H.M.F., Flamingos Fósseis da Bacia de Taubaté, estado de S o Paulo, Brasil: descrição de nova espécie, An. Acad. bras. Ci., 1990, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 335–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baird, R.F. and Vickers-Rich, P., Palaelodus (Aves: Palaelodidae) from the middle to late Cainozoic of Australia, Alcheringa, 1998, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 135–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumel, J.J. and Witmer, L.M., Osteologia, in Handbook of Avian Anatomy: Nomina Anatomica Avium. 2nd edition, Baumel, J.J., King, A.S., Breazile, J.E., et al., Eds., 1993, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Nuttal Ornithol Club, pp. 45–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodkorb, P., Catalogue of fossil birds, Bull. Florida St. Museum. Biol Sci., 1963, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 179–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodkorb, P., Catalogue of fossil birds: Part 4 (Columbiformes through Piciformes), Bull. Florida St. Museum. Biol. Sci., 1971, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 163–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheneval, J., Révision du genre Palaelodus Milne-Edwards, 1863 (Aves, Phoenicopteriformes) du gisement aquitanien de Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (Allier, France), Geobios, 1983, vol. 16, no 2, pp. 179–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheneval, J. and Esquillié, F., New data concerning Palaelodus ambiguus (Aves: Phoenicopteriformes: Palaelodidae): ecological and evolutionary interpretations, Natur. Hist. Museum Los Angeles Co., Sci. Ser., 1992, no. 36, pp. 209–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheneval, J., Ginsburg, L., Mourer-Chauviré, C., and Ratanasthien, B., The Miocene avifauna of the Li Mae long locality, Thailand: systematics and paleoecology, J. Southeast Asian Earth Sci., 1991, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 117–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, J.A., Norell, M.A., and Dashzeveg, D., New avian remains from the Eocene of Mongolia and the phylogenetic position of the Eogruidae (Aves, Gruoidea), Amer. Museum Novit., 2005, no. 3494, pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • del Hoyo, J., Family Phoenicopteridae (flamingos), in Handbook of the Birds of the World, del Hoyo, J., Elliot, A., Sargatal, J., Eds., Barcelona: Lynx Editions, 1992, vol. 1, pp. 508–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dementiev, G.P., Class Aves. Birds, in Osnovy Paleontologii, Zemnovodnye, Presmykayushiesya i Pticy [Basics of paleontology, amphibians, reptiles and birds], Rozhdestvensky, A.K. and Tatarinov, L.P., Eds., M.: Nauka, 1964, pp. 660–699.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, C.J.O. and Walker, C.A., Birds of the British lower Oligocene, Tertiar. Res. Spec. Pap., 1979. no. 5, pp. 29–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, C.J.O. and Walker, C.A., Fossil birds from the upper Cretaceous of Northern Pakistan, Tertiar. Res., 1982, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 53–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heizmann, E.P.J. and Hesse, A., Die Mittelmiozänen Vogel- und Säugetierfaunen des Nördlinger Ries (MN6) und des Steinheimer Beckens (MN7)—ein Vergleich, Cour. Forschungs. Senck., 1995, vol. 181, pp. 171–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, L., The aragonian vertebrate fauna of Xiacaowan, Jiangsu — 6. Aves, Vertebr. PalAsiat., 1987, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, L., A middle eocene bird from Sangequan, Xinjiang, Vertebr. PalAsiat., 1989, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, L., An eocene bird from Songzi, Hubei Province, Vertebr. PalAsiat., 1990, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 34–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, L., Zhou, Zh., Zhang, F., and Li, J., A new vulture from the Miocene of Shandong, Eastern China, Vertebr. PalAsiat., 2000, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 104–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, L., Zhou, Zh., Zhang, F., and Wang, Z., A middle miocene ostrich fossil from Gansu Province, Northwest China, Chin. Sci. Bull., vol. 50, no. 16, pp. 1808–1810.

  • Hwang, S.H., Mayr, G., and Bolortsetseg, M., The earliest record of a galliform Bird in Asia, from the late Paleocene-early Eocene of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, J. Vertebr. Paleontol., 2010, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 1642–1644.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kordikova, E.G., Oligocene vertebrate assemblages in Central Kazakhstan: faunas, biogeography and paleoecology, Histor. Biol., 1994, vol. 8, pp. 191–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N., Fossil remains of Oligocene birds from Mongolia, Ornithologia, 1968a. no. 9, pp. 323–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N., New Oligocene birds from Kazakhstan, Paleontol Zhurn., 1968b, no. 1, pp. 92–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N., A survey of Paleogene birds of Asia, Smith. Contrib. Paleobiol., 1976, no. 27, pp. 76–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N., Middle Pliocene rails from Western Mongolia, Contrib. Sci. Natur. Hist. Museum Los Angeles. Co., 1980, no. 330, pp. 69–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N., New representatives and evolution of two Archaic Gruiform families in Eurasia, Transact. Joint Sov.-Mongol Paleontol Exped., 1981, vol. 15, pp. 59–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N., Birds of the Central Asia in Pliocene, Transact. Joint Sov.-Mongol. Paleontol Exped., 1985, vol. 26, pp. 1–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N. and Dyke, G.J., A large collection of Presbyornis (Aves, Anseriformes, Presbyornithidae) from the late Paleocene and early Eocene of Mongolia, Geol. J., 2010, vol. 45, pp. 375–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin, E.N. and Dyke, G.J., The first fossil owls (Aves: Strigiformes) from the Paleogene of Asia and a review of the fossil record of Strigiformes, Paleontol. J., 2011, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 445–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambrecht, K., Handbuch der Palaeornithologie, Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livezey, B.C., Grebes and flamingos: standards of evidence, adjudication of disputes, and societal politics in avian systematics, Cladistics, 2011, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lydekker, R., Catalogue of the fossil birds in the British Museum (Natural History), London: Taylor and Francis, 1891.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, G., Morphological evidence for sister group relation-ship between Flamingos (Aves: Phoenicopteridae) and Grebes (Podicipedidae), Zool J. Linn. Soc., 2004, vol. 140, no. 2, pp. 157–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, G., Paleogene Fossil Birds, Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2009.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, G. and Smith, R., Avian remains from the lowermost oligocene of Hoogbutsel (Belgium), Bull. Inst. Roy. Sci. Natur. Belg. Sci. Terre., 2002, vol. 72, pp. 139–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, G., Rana, R.S., Sahni, A., and Smith, T., Oldest fossil avian remains from the Indian subcontinental plate, Current Sci., 2007, vol. 92, no. 9, pp. 1266–1269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, G., Rana, R.S., Rose, K.D., et al. Quercypsitta-like birds from the early Eocene of India (Aves, ?Psittaciformes), J. Vertebr. Paleontol., 2010, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 467–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, G., Metaves, mirandornithes, strisores and other novelties—a Aritical review of the higher-level Phylogeny of Neornithine Birds, J. Zool. System. Evol. Res., 2011, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 58–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L., A Miocene flamingo from California, Condor, 1950, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 69–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milne-Edwards, A., Recherches anatomiques etpaleontologiques pour servirà l’histoire des oiseaux fossiles de la France, Paris: Victor Masson et fils, 1867.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mlíkovsky, J., Cenozoic birds of the World, part 1: Europe. Praha: Ninox press, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mlíkovsky, J. and Švec, P., Review of the tertiary waterfowl (Aves: Anseridae) of Asia, V st. s. Spole. Zool., 1986, vol. 50, pp. 249–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, S.L. and Feduccia, A., Relationships and evolution of flamingos (Aves: Phoenicopteridae), Smith. Contrib. Zool., 1980, no. 316, pp. 1–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, D.T., Olson, S.L., and Simons, E.L., Fossil birds from the Oligocene Jebel Qatrani Formation, Fayum Province, Egypt, Smith. Contrib. Paleobiol., 1987, no. 62, pp. 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, P.V., Hou, L., Ono, K., and Baird, R.F., A review of the fossil birds of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, Geobios, 1986, vol. 19, no. 6, pp. 755–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sytchevskaya, E.K., Neogene freshwater fish fauna of Mongolia, Transact. Joint Sov.-Mongol. Paleontol. Exped., 1989, vol. 39, pp. 1–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Švec, P., Lower Miocene birds from Dolnice (Cheb basin), Western Bohemia, part II, Cas. Mineral. Geol., 1981, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 45–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tugarinov, A.Y., New data on the tertiary ornithofauna of USSR, Dokl Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1940, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 314–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., Mayr, G., Zhang, J., and Zhou, Zh., New bird remains from the Middle Eocene of Guangdong, China, Acta Paleontol., Polon., 2012a, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 519–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., Mayr, G., Zhang, J., and Zhou, Zh., Two new skeletons of the enigmatic, rail-like avian taxon Songzia Hou, 1990 (Songziidae) from the early Eocene of China, Alcheringa, 2012b, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 487–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worthy, T.H., Tennyson, A.J.D., Archer, M., and Scofield R.P., First record of Palaelodus (Aves: Phoenicopteriformes) from New Zealand, Rec. Austral. Museum, 2010, vol. 62, pp. 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zazhigin, V.S. and Lopatin, A.V., History of dipodoidea (Rodentia, Mammalia) in the Miocene of Asia: 1. Heterosminthus (Lophocricetinae), Paleontol. Zh., 2000, no. 3, pp. 90–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zazhigin, V.S. and Lopatin, A.V., History of dipodoidea (Rodentia, Mammalia) in the Miocene of Asia: 4. Dipodinae at the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, Paleontol. Zh., 2001, no. 1, pp. 61–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V. and Kurochkin, E.N., Neogene Phasianids (Aves: Phasianidae) of Central Asia: 1.Genus Tologuica gen. nov., Paleontol. J., 2009a, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 208–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V. and Kurochkin, E.N., Neogene Phasianids (Aves: Phasianidae) of Central Asia: 2.Genera Perdix, Plioperdix, and Bantamyx, Paleontol. J., 2009b, vol. 43, no. 3. pp. 318–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V. and Kurochkin, E.N., Neogene Phasianids (Aves: Phasianidae) of Central Asia: 3.Genera Lophogallus gen. nov. and Syrmaticus, Paleontol. J., 2010, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 328–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V., Diving ducks from the middle Miocene of Western Mongolia, Paleontol. J., 2011a, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 191–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V., Ardea sytchevskayae sp. nov., a new heron species (Aves: Ardeidae) from the middle Miocene of Mongolia, Paleontol. J., 2011a, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 572–579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V., A new duck from the Middle Miocene of Mongolia with comments on the Miocene evolution of ducks, Paleontol. J., 2012a, vol. 46, no. 5, pp. 520–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V., Neogene geese and ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from localities of the great lakes depression (Western Mongolia), Paleontol. J., 2012b, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 607–619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V. and Kurochkin, E.N., Dubbling ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from the middle Miocene of Mongolia, Paleontol. J., 2012, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 421–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelenkov, N.V. and Kurochkin, E.N., The first representative Pliocene assemblages of passerine birds in Asia (Northern Mongolia and Russian Transbaikalia), Geobios., 2012, vol. 45, pp. 323–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Z., Zheng, X., Zheng, G., and Hou, L., A new old World vulture (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) from the Miocene of Gansu Province, Northwest China, J. Ornithol., 2010, vol. 151, no. 2, pp. 401–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Borissiak Paleontological Institute of RAS, Moscow, Russia

    N. V. Zelenkov

Authors
  1. N. V. Zelenkov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. V. Zelenkov.

Additional information

The article is published in the original.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zelenkov, N.V. Cenozoic phoenicopteriform birds from central Asia. Paleontol. J. 47, 1323–1330 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030113110178

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030113110178

Keywords

Search

Navigation