Afrocygnus
| Afrocygnus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Illustration of holotype humerus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Anserinae |
| Tribe: | Cygnini |
| Genus: | †Afrocygnus Louchart et al, 2005 |
| Type species | |
| †Afrocygnus chauvireae Louchart et al, 2005
| |
Afrocygnus is an
Cygnus. Fossils of the genus have been uncovered in the Sahabi Formation of Cyrenaica in Libya, and in the Toros-Menalla locality in the Djurab Desert of Northern Chad.[1]
History and naming
Fossils associated with Afrocygnus were first described in 1987 by Peter Ballmann from remains found in the
Anseriform. In 2005, a new study by Louchart, Vignaud, Likius, Taisso Mackaye and Brunet described new remains found at Toros-Menalla in the Djurab Desert, in Chad, and established a new genus and species, Afrocygnus chauvireae, using TM112.00.196, a complete left humerus, as holotype. The fragmentary remains found in 1987 in Libya were associated to the genus, and tentatively to the type species.[1]
The genus name, Afrocygnus, is composed of Afro-, meaning "of Africa", and -cygnus, meaning "swan". The species name, chauvireae, honours the French paleontologist Cécile Mourer-Chauviré.[1]
References
- ^ S2CID 85860957.