Juncitarsus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Juncitarsus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| Fossil specimen of J. merkeli from Messel, Museo di Storia Naturale | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Mirandornithes |
| Genus: | †Juncitarsus Olson & Feduccia, 1980 |
| Species | |
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†Juncitarsus gracillimus Olson & Feduccia, 1980 | |
Juncitarsus is an extinct genus of wading birds from the Eocene of the United States and Germany. Though previously considered a flamingo, it is likely outside of Phoenicopteridae, possibly a basal member of the Mirandornithes (neither Phoenicopteriformes or Podicipediformes).
A small set of bones were collected in 1946 and 1947 by Charles Lewis Gazin, Franklin L. Pearce, and George F. Sternberg at a locality in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming. These bones were sent to be studied by Alexander Wetmore, though he could not identify the species. It was not until 1980 that they were named by Storrs L. Olson and Alan Feduccia. The nominate species was named J. gracillimus with the nomenclature meaning "slender reed ankle".[1] A second species, J. merkeli from Germany was named in 1987 by Stefan Peters.[2]
Description
The remains of J. gracillimus belong to at least three adult or nearly adult birds and one chick, which at the time of death could not fly. Different sizes of bones may indicate sexual dimorphism. In the holotype (USNM 244318), the left tarsometatarsus is almost completely preserved; only a small inner part of the proximal section is missing. One right tarsus includes only the proximal section, the other - the proximal section and fragments of the head of the joint (lat. trochlea). The distal section of the right tarsus, fragments of the left tibiotarsus without a tarsus, the distal section of the right tibiotarsus, the anterior part of the left scapula, and an unfused frontal bone were preserved in a young specimen. In addition, the distal part of the right femur, fragments of the humerus and ulna, some phalanges of the fingers and vertebrae have been preserved.[1]
Based on the more completed J. merkeli (SMF A 295), the genus was a long-legged bird with a long, slender bill as seen in stilts.[2]
