Anhinga pannonica
Anhinga pannonica | |
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Cervical vertebra of A. pannonica (A-G) compared to extant species | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Suliformes |
Family: | Anhingidae |
Genus: | Anhinga |
Species: | †A. pannonica
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Binomial name | |
†Anhinga pannonica (Lambrecht, 1916)
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Anhinga pannonica is an extinct species of darter from the Miocene of Europe and Africa. Described in 1916, A. pannonica is the only species of darter to have existed in Europe and is notably larger than most extant species, with an estimated weight of 3.3 kg (7.3 lb). The species likely went extinct as the climate continued to cool towards the end of the Miocene and beginning Pliocene, heavily effecting the darter that would have required a subtropical or tropical climate to survive.
History and naming
Anhinga pannonica was the first fossil darter scientifically described from Europe. The holotype, the sixth cervical vertebrae of the animal, was found in the
Substantial remains were also found in Germany, in particular the Hammerschmiede locality in Bavaria, which yielded 10 fossil bones belonging to 5 individuals. In the same publication the authors also take note of several bird remains from the Regensburg-Dechbetten locality previously described by Ludwig von Ammon as species of cormorants and herons (Phalacrocorax brunhuber, Ardea brunhuberi & Botaurites avitus). Following the description of von Ammon, Brotkorb placed them all in the species Phalacrocorax brunhuber, while Mayr et al. (2020) argue that the remains all belong to Anhinga pannonica. As some authors have suggested that Phalacrocorax brunhuber may be synonymous with Phalacrocorax intermedius, it is possible that the later name takes precedence over Anhinga pannonica. However closer examination of P. intermedius material would be needed to determine this.[4]
Description
Anhinga pannonica was a large darter, being described as having a humerus longer than any extant anhinga species and comparable in size to
Distribution
Fossils of Anhinga pannonica are known throughout various parts of Africa and Eurasia, corresponding with rock layers Miocene to Pliocene in age. In Africa remains have been found in the Beglia Formation (Tunisia, ca. 11-10 Ma), Toros-Menalla[5] (Chad, 7 Ma) and the Ngorora Formation[6] (Kenya, 13-12 Ma), which marks its southernmost records. Additionally a large, unidentified darter was discovered in the Sahabi Formation[7] (Libya, Late Miocene). In Asia fossils referred to A. pannonica have been found in Pakistan[8] (Late Miocene) and Thailand[9] (16 Ma), however this identification is considered to be questionable given their smaller size and in need of revision.[4]
Besides the type locality in Romania (10 Ma), records in Europe are known from Götzendorf[10] (Austria, 9.8-9 Ma), the Hambach surface mine (Germany, 16-15.2 Ma), Regensburg-Dechbetten (Germany, middle Miocene) and the Hammerschmiede clay pit (Germany, 11.6-11.4 Ma). Putative remains were discovered in Hungary (13.5-11 Ma). Should Phalacrocorax intermedius prove to be synonymous with Phalacrocorax brunhuber and by extension Anhinga pannonica, the range within Europe would also include France and the Czech Republic.[4]
Disregarding the uncertain remains from Hungary and Asia, as well as those of Phalacrocorax intermedius, Anhinga pannonica is known from nine localities across Europe and Africa spanning a total of 10 million years. The oldest of these remains are from the Bavarian sediments dating to approximately 16-15 Ma, which also mark the northernmost extent of the species. During the early stages of the Late Miocene the darter was seemingly widespread around the
Paleobiology
Unlike many other waterbirds such as
Like its modern relatives, Anhinga pannonica inhabited areas rich in freshwater such as rivers. In the case of the Hammerschmiede locality, it inhabited floodplains with meandering rivers. The older deposits (HAM 5, 11.62 Ma) preserve a small channel 4–5 m (13–16 ft) wide and 0.8–1 m (2 ft 7 in – 3 ft 3 in) deep, while the younger HAM 4 deposits (11.44 Ma) show a medium-sized river 50 m (160 ft) across and 4–5 m (13–16 ft) deep. Both channels are asymmetrical with a notably deeper outer bank and a slow flow velocity. Anhingas are generally shallow water divers, specialised in depths of <0.5 m (1 ft 8 in). Prey was present through a diverse fossil fish fauna including
References
- ^ Lambrecht, K. (1916). "Die Gattung Plotus im ungarischen Neogen" (PDF). Mitteilungen aus dem Jahrbuche der königlich ungarischen geologischen Anstalt. 24: 1–24.
- ^ Brodkorb, P. (1963). "Catalogue of Fossil Birds - Part 1 (Archaeopterygiformes through Ardeiformes)". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum. 7 (4): 256.
- ^ Rich, P. V. (1972). "A fossil avifauna from the Upper Miocene Beglia formation of Tunisia". Notes du Service Géologique. 35 (5): 29–66.
- ^ PMID 32374733.
- ^ Louchart, A.; Haile-Selassie, Y.; Vignaud, P.; Likius, A.; Brunet, M. (2008). "Fossil birds from the Late Miocene of Chad and Ethiopia and zoogeographical implications". Oryctos. 7pages=147–167.
- S2CID 53518113.
- ^ P. Ballmann: A Fossil Bird Fauna From the Pliocene Sahabi Formation in Libya. In: N. T. Boaz, A. El-Arnauti, A. W. Gaziry, J. de Heinzelin & D. D. Boaz (Hrsg.): Neogene Paleontology and Geology of Sahabi, Libya, Alan R. Liss, New York, 1987, ISBN 0-8451-4214-3, S. 113–117.
- ^ Harrison, C. J. O.; Walker, C. A. (1982). "Fossil birds from the Upper Miocene of northern Pakistan". Tertiary Research. 4 (2): 53–69.
- ISSN 0743-9547.
- JSTOR 41701908.