Aspects of diversity in early Antarctic penguins
Piotr Jadwiszczak,Thomas Mörs +1 more
TLDR
It is suggested that Antarctic species of Anthropornis and Palaeeudyptes, so-called giant penguins, may in fact comprise only one species each instead of two, based on evidence of well-marked sexual dimorphism.Abstract:
Penguin bones from the Eocene La Meseta Formation (Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula) constitute the only extensive fossil record of Antarctic Sphenisciformes. Here, we synonymize some of the recognized genera (Anthropornis with Orthopteryx, Delphinornis with Ichtyopteryx) and species (Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi with Orthopteryx gigas, Delphinornis gracilis with Ichtyopteryx gracilis). Moreover, we suggest that Antarctic species of Anthropornis and Palaeeudyptes, so-called giant penguins, may in fact comprise only one species each instead of two, based on evidence of well-marked sexual dimorphism. We also present new estimates of body mass based on femora testifying to the impressive scope of interspecific body-size variation in Eocene Antarctic penguins.read more
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The Miocene: The Future of the Past
Margret Steinthorsdottir,Margret Steinthorsdottir,Helen K. Coxall,A. M. de Boer,Matthew Huber,Natasha Barbolini,Catherine Bradshaw,Catherine Bradshaw,Natalie J. Burls,Sarah J. Feakins,Edward Gasson,Jorijntje Henderiks,Ann Holbourn,S. Kiel,S. Kiel,Matthew J. Kohn,Gregor Knorr,Wolfram M. Kürschner,Caroline H Lear,Diederik Liebrand,Daniel J. Lunt,Thomas Mörs,Thomas Mörs,Paul Nicholas Pearson,Matthew J. Pound,Heather Stoll,Caroline A.E. Strömberg +26 more
TL;DR: A review of the state-of-the-art in Miocene climate, ocean circulation, biogeochemical cycling, ice sheet dynamics, and biotic adaptation research can be found in this article.
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New fossil penguins (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Oligocene of New Zealand reveal the skeletal plan of stem penguins
TL;DR: New materials described here, along with re-study of previously described specimens, resolve several long-standing phylogenetic, biogeographic, and taxonomic issues stemming from the inadequate comparative material of several of the first-named fossil penguin species.
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Endocranial anatomy of Antarctic Eocene stem penguins: implications for sensory system evolution in Sphenisciformes (Aves)
TL;DR: Three virtual endocasts from stem penguin skulls collected from the Eocene La Meseta Formation of Seymour Island (Antarctica), along with comparative data from extant penguins and outgroups, provide new support for several important shifts in neuroanatomy and cranial skeletal anatomy along the transition from stem to crown penguins.
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Partial limb skeleton of a "giant penguin" Anthropornis from the Eocene of Antarctic Peninsula
TL;DR: In this article, the most complete large−scale reconstruction of a limb skeleton (a whole wing and a partial hind leg) of a Paleogene Antarctic penguin is reported, attributed to a single individual identified as Anthropornis sp.
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Review of the putative Phorusrhacidae from the Cretaceous and Paleogene of Antarctica: new records of ratites and pelagornithid birds
TL;DR: There is no empirical evidence for the presence of terror birds in Antarctica, and the indeterminate Pelagornithidae specimen represents the largest pseudo−toothed bird known so far.
References
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Sexual Dimorphism and Differential Niche Utilization in Birds
TL;DR: Evidence of an adaptive function of sexual dimorphism in size in woodpeckers is presented by relating degrees of morphologicalDimorphism and sexual divergence in foraging behavior in two melanerpine species, the stronglyDimorphic Hispaniolan Woodpecker of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and the moderately dimorphic Golden-fronted Woodpeker of continental North and Central America.
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International Code of Zoological Nomenclature: Fourth Edition
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Long‐bone circumference and weight in mammals, birds and dinosaurs
TL;DR: The allometric equations applied to the mid-shaft circumferences of these elements in dinosaurs, the weights calculated for some giant sauropods (Brachiosaurus) are found to be lighter than previous estimates.
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Early Penguin Fossils, Plus Mitochondrial Genomes, Calibrate Avian Evolution
Kerryn E. Slack,Craig M. Jones,Tatsuro Ando,G.L. Harrison,R. Ewan Fordyce,Ulfur Arnason,David Penny +6 more
TL;DR: A test for events around the Late Cretaceous is reported by describing the earliest penguin fossils, analyzing complete mitochondrial genomes from an albatross, a petrel, and a loon, and describing the gradual decline of pterosaurs at the same time modern birds radiate.