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New specimens of the Eocene Messelirrisoridae (Aves: Bucerotes), with comments on the preservation of uropygial gland waxes in fossil birds from Messel and the phylogenetic affinities of Bucerotes

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Abstract

Exceptionally well-preserved new specimens of the Messelirrisoridae (Aves: Bucerotes), which show previously unknown features of the osteology and feathering of these tiny birds, are described from the Middle Eocene of Messel in Germany. Most notably in one of the new specimens the wing and tail feathers are excellently preserved and even show the former color pattern of the tail. A cream-colored substance in some specimens most likely constitutes fossilized uropygial gland waxes. For the first time, the phylogenetic affinities of the Messelirrisoridae are evaluated in a cladistic analysis, based on 122 characters and 34 extant and fossil taxa. The results of this analysis support the earlier hypothesis that Messelirrisoridae are stem lineage Upupiformes, i.e. the sister taxon of the clade including extant hoopoes (Upupidae) and woodhoopoes (Phoeniculidae). The analysis further supports sister group relationship between Bucerotes (Upupiformes + Bucerotidae [hornbills]) and Piciformes (woodpeckers and allies), although it is detailed that one of the recently proposed apomorphies of the clade (Bucerotes + Piciformes) is absent in the Messelirrisoridae.

Kurzfassung

Außergewöhnlich gut erhaltene neue Exemplare der Messelirrisoridae (Aves: Bucerotes) werden aus dem mittleren Eozän von Messel in Deutschland beschrieben und zeigen bisher unbekannte Details der Osteologie und Befiederung dieser kleinen Vögel. Insbesondere sind bei einem der neuen Exemplare die Flügel- und Schwanzfedern und sogar das ehemalige Farbmuster der Schwanzfedern ausgezeichnet erhalten. Eine beige Substanz in einigen Exemplaren stellt wahrscheinlich fossilisierte Bürzeldrüsensekrete dar. Zum ersten Mal werden die phylogenetischen Beziehungen der Messelirrisoridae in einer kladistischen Analyse untersucht, der 122 Merkmale und 34 rezente und fossile Taxa zugrunde liegen. Die Resultate dieser Analyse stützen die frühere Hypothese, dass Messelirrisoridae Stammgruppenvertreter der Upupiformes sind, d.h. die Schwestergruppe eines die rezenten Wiedehopfe (Upupidae) und Baumhopfe (Phoeniculidae) umfassenden Taxons. Die Analyse stützt darüber hinaus ein Schwestergruppenverhältnis zwischen Bucerotes (Upupiformes + Bucerotidae [Nashornvögel]) und Piciformes (Spechte und Verwandte), obgleich eine der vor kurzem diskutierten Apomorphien des Taxons (Bucerotes + Piciformes) den Messelirrisoridae fehlt.

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  1. Division of Ornithology, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325, Frankfurt / Main, Germany

    Gerald Mayr

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Mayr, G. New specimens of the Eocene Messelirrisoridae (Aves: Bucerotes), with comments on the preservation of uropygial gland waxes in fossil birds from Messel and the phylogenetic affinities of Bucerotes. Paläont. Z. 80, 390–405 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02990211

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