The cretaceous birds of New Jersey

Related Titles

Series: Smithsonian contributions to paleobiology, no. 63

By

Olson, Storrs L.

Parris, David C.

Type

Book

Material

Published material

Publication info

Washington, D.C, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987

Notes

This is a revision of the fossil birds from Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian; Hornerstown and Navesink formations) deposits in New Jersey. Material of previously named taxa, described over a century ago, is augmented by more recently collected specimens from a new locality at the Inversand Company marl pits near Sewell, Gloucester County. With about 8 genera and 9 species, this is the most diverse Cretaceous avifauna yet known. Most species belong to a group of primitive Charadriiformes resembling in limb morphology the fossil family Presbyornithidae and the living family Burhinidae. These are tentatively referred to the “form family” Graculavidae Fürbringer, 1888, with its provisional synonyms Palaeotringinae Wetmore, 1940; Telmatornithidae Cracraft, 1972, and Laornithidae Cracraft, 1972. The species included are: Graculavus velox Marsh, 1872; Telmatornis priscus Marsh, 1870 (synonyms: Telmatornis affinis Marsh, 1870; Graculavus pumilus Marsh, 1872; Palaeotringa vetus Marsh, 1870); Anatalavis rex (Shufeldt, 1915); Laornis edvardsianus Marsh, 1870; Palaeotringa littoralis Marsh, 1870; P. vagans Marsh, 1872; and an undescribed genus and species probably different from any of the preceding. Anatalavis is proposed as a new genus for Telmatornis rex Shufeldt, 1915. A new family, genus, and species (Tytthostonychidae, Tytthostonyx glauconiticus) is proposed for a humerus showing similarities to the Pelecaniformes and Procellariiformes and tentatively referred to the latter, along with an ulna of a much smaller species. The species in this fauna appear to be part of the modern radiation of neognathous birds, but none can be referred to modern families.

Subjects

Birds, Fossil , Cretaceous , New Jersey , Paleontology

BHL Collections

Unearthed! Smithsonian Libraries' Paleo Collection

Call Number

QE701 .S56 no. 63

Language

English

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810266.63.1
GPO: 910-G
LCCN: https://lccn.loc.gov/86029837
OCLC: 14930984